Karaoke system, karaoke device, and program for karaoke device

Abstract

To provide a Karaoke system capable of sharing sound effect with other Karaoke devices or terminal devices which can communicate with each other via a network, a Karaoke device, and a program for Karaoke device.SOLUTION: A CPU of a first device performs setting processing of sound effect, outputs voice and music to which sound effect is set from a speaker, and transmits setting information of sound effect to a second device via the Internet. The second device receives a parameter of first sound effect which is sent (S15). The CPU of the second device sets the received parameter of first sound effect (S18). The CPU of the second device reflects the parameter of first sound effect and outputs voice (S20).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a karaoke system, a karaoke device, and a program for a karaoke device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a karaoke system that connects two or more karaoke devices or terminal devices via the Internet to perform karaoke. In addition, the karaoke device may have a function of applying acoustic effects such as echo and voice change to the singing voice in order to liven up the atmosphere.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The karaoke system disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a function of sharing acoustic effects with other karaoke devices or terminal devices connected via a network. Therefore, it was not possible to generate the same acoustic effects as other devices among the karaoke devices or terminal devices connected via the network. In this case, there was a problem that a sense of unity was not created with the users of other karaoke devices or terminal devices connected via the network.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke system, a karaoke device, and a program for a karaoke device that can share acoustic effects with other karaoke devices or terminal devices that can communicate via a network.

[0006] The karaoke system according to the first aspect of the present invention is a karaoke system in which a first device and a second device can communicate with each other via a network. The first device includes a first input unit to which voice is input, a first output unit that outputs sound, and a first control unit that controls the first device. The first control unit performs a first setting process for setting an acoustic effect, plays a music piece, applies the acoustic effect to the voice input from the first input unit, and outputs the result from the first output unit. The first control unit also executes a transmission process of transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effect and the input voice to the second device. The second device includes a second input unit to which voice is input, a second output unit that outputs sound, and a second control unit that controls the second device. The second control unit executes a reception process of receiving the setting information of the acoustic effect and the voice transmitted by the transmission process of the first device, a second setting process for performing the setting process of the acoustic effect received by the reception process, plays the music piece, applies the acoustic effect to the voice received by the reception process, and outputs the result from the second output unit.

[0007] According to the karaoke system of the first aspect of the present invention, the acoustic effect can be shared between the first device and the second device that can communicate with each other via a network.

[0008] The karaoke device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a karaoke device capable of communicating with other devices via a network, the karaoke device comprising an input unit into which audio is input, an output unit that outputs sound, and a control unit that controls the karaoke device, the control unit performing a first setting process for setting acoustic effects, playing a music piece, applying the acoustic effects to the audio input from the input unit, and outputting the audio from the output unit as a first output process, transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effects and the input audio to the other device as a transmission process, receiving the setting information of the acoustic effects and the audio transmitted from the other device as a reception process, performing a second setting process for setting the acoustic effects received in the reception process, playing the music piece, applying the acoustic effects to the audio received in the reception process, and outputting the audio from the output unit as a second output process. The karaoke device according to the second aspect can achieve the same effects as the first aspect.

[0009] A program for a karaoke device according to the third aspect of the present invention is a program for a karaoke device that is communicable with other devices via a network, the karaoke device comprising an input unit into which audio is input, an output unit that outputs sound, and a processor, the program causing the processor to perform a first setting process for setting acoustic effects, playing a music piece, applying the acoustic effects to the audio input from the input unit, and outputting the audio from the output unit as a first output process, transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effects and the input audio to the other device as a transmission process, receiving the setting information of the acoustic effects and the audio transmitted from the other device as a reception process, performing a second setting process for setting the acoustic effects received in the reception process, playing the music piece, applying the acoustic effects to the audio received in the reception process, and outputting the audio from the output unit as a second output process. The program for a karaoke device according to the third aspect can achieve the same effects as the first aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drawings referred to are used to explain the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. That is, the configurations, controls, etc. described in the drawings are not intended to be limited thereto, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0012] <Configuration of the Karaoke System 10> Referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the karaoke system 10 of the present embodiment will be described. The karaoke system 10 is composed of a karaoke device 2 connected via the Internet 3 and at least one or more smartphones 6. In the present embodiment, a case where one karaoke device 2 and two smartphones 6a and 6b are connected to the mediation server 80 via the Internet 3 will be described. In the following description, the smartphones 6 used by the users A and B of the smartphone 6 are referred to as smartphones 6a and 6d, respectively. Also, the karaoke device 2 is installed in the karaoke store C and is used by the user C.

[0013] <Configuration of the mediation server 80> The mediation server 80 is provided, for example, on the side of a provider that provides a karaoke service via the Internet 3. The mediation server 80 includes at least a CPU 81, a communication unit 82, and a database 83, and can communicate with the karaoke device 2 and the smartphones 6a and 6b via the Internet 3. The CPU 81 controls the mediation server 80 and realizes the functions of the karaoke management unit 81a and the content management unit 81b. The karaoke management unit 81a executes various processes between the karaoke device 2 and the smartphones 6. The content management unit 81b manages the music information to be played on the karaoke device 2 and the smartphones 6, and distributes it to the karaoke device 2 if necessary. The database 83 stores the information necessary for various processes performed by the karaoke management unit 81a and the music information.

[0014] Also, in the present embodiment, it is possible to use the smartphones 6a and 6b as karaoke devices. The smartphones 6a and 6b are connected to the Internet 3 via a Wi-Fi router 5 connected to an optical modem 52.

[0015] <Electrical configuration of the karaoke device 2 and the remote control device 1> Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the electrical configurations of the karaoke device 2 (also referred to as the "commander") and the remote control device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The karaoke device 2 is connected to the LAN 100 and is connected to the Internet 3 via the router 120. The remote control device 1 is connected to the Internet 3 via the access point 130, the LAN 100, and the router 120.

[0016] The karaoke device 2 includes an audio control unit 25 as a performance unit for performing music. The karaoke device 2 also includes an operation unit 21 for receiving various inputs from the user, an operation processing unit 22 for interpreting the inputs from the operation unit 21 and transmitting them to the CPU 30, and a hard disk 32 as a storage unit for storing various programs and various information. The karaoke device 2 includes a LAN communication unit 24a as a communication means for connecting to the LAN 100 and participating in the network. The karaoke device 2 of the present embodiment also includes a wireless LAN communication unit 24b, and it is also possible to perform a wireless network connection using the wireless LAN communication unit 24b instead of the wired network connection using the LAN communication unit 24a.

[0017] The karaoke device 2 also includes video playback means for displaying lyric videos and background videos on the monitor 41. This video playback means includes a video playback unit 29 for playing back videos based on video information, a video RAM 28 for temporarily storing the videos to be played back, and a video control unit 31 for superimposing lyric subtitles on the played-back videos, applying video effects, etc. A camera 43 is connected to the video control unit 31, and it is possible to take pictures of the state of the user singing, etc., and the state in the room of the karaoke store. In the present embodiment, it is possible to share the video captured by the camera 43 with other karaoke systems and construct a virtual room as if entering the same room.

[0018] Furthermore, in this karaoke device 2, in addition to the monitor 41 connected externally, various information can be displayed on the touch panel monitor 33. The touch panel monitor 33 is configured by superimposing a display unit 35 that displays video information input from the video control unit 31 and a touch panel 34 that outputs the position of a touch input to the operation processing unit 22. This touch panel monitor 33 is arranged on the front surface of the housing of the karaoke device 2 or the like, and functions as an input unit similar to the operation unit 21 of the karaoke device 2 or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1. The user can perform various operations on the karaoke device 2, such as directly reserving a song with the karaoke device 2 by selecting a song on the touch panel monitor 33.

[0019] Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 is configured to include a control unit including a CPU 30 for overall control of each component and a memory 27 for temporarily storing information necessary for executing various programs. The CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 can execute song reservation processing, song playback processing, and the like. The song reservation processing is a process for designating and reserving a song based on a designation from the user, and is executed in cooperation with the remote control device 1. The reservation information formed by the song selection processing of the remote control device 1 is transmitted to the karaoke device 2. The karaoke device 2 registers the received reservation information in a reservation table in the memory 27. The song playback processing is a process for playing back a reserved song, and is a process in which the song performance processing and the lyric display processing are executed synchronously.

[0020] The song performance processing is a process for causing the acoustic control unit 25 to perform a performance based on the performance information included in the song information. The song performed by the acoustic control unit 25 is output from the speaker 42 together with the singing voice input from the microphones 43a and 43b. The lyric display processing is a process for assisting singing by displaying the lyric information included in the song information on the monitor 41. It is also possible to execute background video display processing for superimposing a background video on the lyrics displayed by this lyric display processing.

[0021] On the one hand, the remote control device 1 can execute a song selection process that searches for songs based on instructions from the user C and transmits reservation information for the song with a playback instruction to the karaoke device 2. In addition, the remote control device 1 can receive various information from the karaoke device 2 or an intermediary server 80 connected to the Internet 3 and execute various processes. In this embodiment, an operation unit 17 and a touch panel monitor 11 are provided as a user interface for receiving various instructions from the user. The touch panel monitor 11 includes a display unit 11a and a touch panel 11b, displays various interfaces on the display unit 11a, and can receive touch inputs from the user.

[0022] Furthermore, the remote control device 1 includes a memory 14 as a storage unit for storing a database, various programs, and various information generated during program execution, which are required for the song selection process, and a remote control side control unit for comprehensively controlling these components. The remote control side control unit includes a CPU 15, a video control unit 13 for forming a video to be displayed on the touch panel monitor 11, a video RAM 12 for temporarily storing the video information to be displayed, and an operation processing unit 18 for interpreting inputs from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17 and transmitting them to the CPU 15.

[0023] The remote control device 1 is wirelessly connected to an access point 130 by a wireless LAN communication unit 16 and thus connected to a network constituted by the LAN 100. Each remote control device 1 is pre-associated with a specific karaoke device 2. Various commands output from the remote control device 1 are received by the associated karaoke device 2.

[0024] In addition, the remote control device 1 of this embodiment also includes an infrared communication unit 19 and can also transmit various commands using the infrared communication unit 19 instead of the wireless LAN communication unit 16 to the karaoke device 2. The various transmitted commands are received and processed by the infrared communication unit 23 of the karaoke device 2.

[0025] With the configuration of such a remote control device 1, various inputs from the user are received from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17, and by providing various information through the display of the touch panel monitor 11 for video information, various processes can be performed, such as a song selection process for transmitting reservation information output to the karaoke device 2.

[0026] In this embodiment, the mediation server 80 executes various processes during karaoke use. In this embodiment, the mediation server 80 creates a virtual room where users participating in karaoke gather, and the mediation server 80 performs various management within the virtual room, thereby enhancing the convenience during karaoke use.

[0027] <External Configuration of the Smartphone 6> Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the external configuration of the smartphone 6 will be described. The smartphone 6 includes a vertically long rectangular housing 50 and a touch panel display unit 68 on the front. A front camera 65F is provided above the touch panel display unit 68. A speaker 67a and a microphone 67b are provided at the bottom of the housing 50. Also, on the touch panel display unit 68, a display screen for the lyrics of the playing song and a setting screen for various functions can be displayed.

[0028] As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the remote control screen 68a is displayed on the touch panel display unit 68, a singer volume button 68b, a speaker volume button 68c, an echo setting button 68d, a reverb setting button 68e, a voice change setting unit 68f, etc. are displayed on the remote control screen 68a. When any one of the speaker volume button 68c, the echo setting button 68d, and the reverb setting button 68e is touched, the set amount can be changed by the bar on the right side of the touched button. In addition, on the voice change setting unit 68f, a female voice setting button 68g, a male voice setting button 68h, a techno voice setting button 68i, a voice guitar setting button 68j, etc. are displayed. When the female voice setting button 68g is touched, the received singer's voice is converted into a female voice. When the male voice setting button 68h is touched, the received singer's voice is converted into a male voice. When the techno voice setting button 68i is touched, the received singer's voice is converted into a characteristic so-called techno voice processed using effects. When the voice guitar setting button 68j is touched, the received singer's voice is converted into a so-called voice guitar sound like the sound of an electric guitar. On the touch panel display unit 68, in addition to the above, setting units such as comments, reservation confirmation, re-singing, pause, performance stop, Key, BGM, and music playback position change are displayed.

[0029] <Electrical Configuration of Smartphone 6> Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the electrical configuration of the smartphone 6 will be described. The smartphone 6 includes a control unit composed of a CPU 61, a RAM 62, a storage unit 63, an image processing unit 64, and an audio processing unit 66. An example of the storage unit 63 is a non-volatile memory such as a NAND type flash memory. In the storage unit 63, various programs such as the karaoke program of the present embodiment and various data used by the programs are stored. The CPU 61 executes various processes of the smartphone 6 based on the programs and data stored in the storage unit 63. The RAM 62 temporarily stores the data generated by the processing of the CPU 61.

[0030] Under the control of the CPU 61, the audio processing unit 66 performs audio-related input / output operations of the smartphone 6 and outputs sound to the speaker 67a. Also, the audio processing unit 66 is connected to the microphone 67b and can capture voices input from the microphone 67b and ambient sounds. For the speaker 67a and the microphone 67b, external devices such as a headset may be used.

[0031] The touch panel display unit 68 includes a display unit 68m that displays images and a touch panel 68n provided on its front or back surface. The touch panel 68n detects which position on the display unit 68m the user touches. The CPU 61 can perform display control of the display unit 68m via the image processing unit 64 and determine which part of the displayed image has been touched based on the touch input from the touch panel 68n.

[0032] The image processing unit 64 displays and outputs the image formed by the CPU 61 to the display unit 68m. Also, the image processing unit 64 captures an image or video from the front camera 65F arranged on the front of the smartphone 6 or the rear camera 65R arranged on the back of the smartphone 6 and stores it in the storage unit 63.

[0033] In addition, the smartphone 6 includes a first communication unit 69a and a second communication unit 69b for communicating with the outside. The first communication unit 69a is a communication unit for a mobile communication network and performs various communications such as voice communication via the communication line of the mobile communication network through a wireless connection to the base station of the mobile communication network and via the Internet network. The second communication unit 69b is a communication unit for wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) connection. The smartphone 6 uses the second communication unit 69b to connect to the Wi-Fi router 5 to perform various communications such as voice communication. Note that as the communication unit of the smartphone 6, in addition to the first communication unit 69a and the second communication unit 69b, an infrared communication unit, short-range communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. may be provided. Also, the smartphone 6 includes a vibration unit 72 and an LED 73 to give various notifications to the user of the smartphone 6.

[0034] <Parameter Table of Acoustic Effects> Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect will be described. The parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect is stored in the hard disk 32 of the karaoke device 2 or the storage unit 63 of the smartphone 6. The first acoustic effect is also called the acoustic effect of entertainment sound, and in this embodiment, it is voice change. In the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect, the ID number and the content of voice change are associated, grouped, and stored in a list. As an example, ID: 1.1 is female voice, ID: 1.2 is male voice, ID: 2.1 is techno voice, and ID: 2.2 is voice guitar. As shown in FIG. 5, ID: 1.1 (female voice) and ID: 1.2 (male voice) are grouped into the same group (enclosed by a thick line) because they are human voices, and ID: 2.1 (techno voice) and ID: 2.2 (voice guitar) are grouped into the same group (enclosed by a thick line) because they are mechanical voices of special effects and stored in a list. Note that the device storing the parameter table 63a can output the sound of the acoustic effect of the parameters stored in the parameter table 63a.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the parameter table 63b of the second acoustic effect will be described. The parameter table 63b of the second acoustic effect is stored in the hard disk 32 of the karaoke device 2 and the storage unit 63 of the smartphone 6. The second acoustic effect is also called the acoustic effect of the basic sound, and in this embodiment, it is echo, reverb, and microphone volume. In the parameter table 63b of the second acoustic effect, the current setting values and the adjustable ranges for echo, reverb, and microphone volume are stored. For echo, the current setting value is 10 and it can be changed between 0 and 100. The larger the numerical value, the stronger the echo effect. For reverb, the current setting value is 80 and it can be changed between 0 and 100. The larger the numerical value, the stronger the reverb effect. For microphone volume, the current setting value is 45 and it can be changed between 0 and 100. The larger the numerical value, the louder the microphone volume.

[0036] Next, details of various processes when performing karaoke using the karaoke device 2 and smartphones 6a and 6b will be described. In the following example, user A of smartphone 6a instructs the creation of a singing room, which is a virtual karaoke room, using smartphone 6a, and users B and C will participate in the singing room created by user A using smartphone 6b and karaoke device 2, respectively. Therefore, users A to C can perform karaoke by sharing voices (which may include videos) by gathering in the same virtual singing room.

[0037] <Virtual room creation process> Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the virtual room creation process of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the user who creates the virtual room becomes the host. In FIG. 1, user A who uses smartphone 6a will be described as the host, user B who uses smartphone 6b, and user C who uses karaoke device 2 in karaoke store C as guests.

[0038] User A uses smartphone 6a to create a virtual room where karaoke users gather. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the virtual room creation process will be described. When the CPU 61 of smartphone 6a receives a virtual room creation operation by user A (host) (S101), the CPU 61 sends a virtual room creation request to the karaoke management unit 81a of the mediation server 80 (S102). On smartphone 6a, a virtual room creation standby screen (not shown) is displayed on the touch panel display unit 68 (S103). The CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) of the mediation server 80 that has received the virtual room creation request creates a new record in the virtual room table (S107). Thereafter, the CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) sends a virtual room creation response to smartphone 6a (S108). The virtual room creation response includes at least information indicating that the creation of the virtual room has been completed. The CPU 61 of smartphone 6a displays a virtual room creation result screen (not shown) indicating that the virtual room has been created on the touch panel display unit 68 (S112).

[0039] <Virtual Room Participation Process> Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the virtual room participation process of this embodiment will be described. The virtual room participation process is performed by the CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b of user B or the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 of user C. Hereinafter, the case where the smartphone 6b participates in the virtual room will be described. The same applies to the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2. When the CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b of user B executes the virtual room participation process, it displays a virtual room selection screen (not shown) on the touch panel display unit 68. The virtual room selection screen is operated by user B, and a virtual room search operation is input to the CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b (S201). The CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b transmits a virtual room search request to the CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) of the mediation server 80 (S202). Also, the CPU 61b of the smartphone 6b displays a virtual room search standby screen on the touch panel display unit 68 (S203). The CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) of the mediation server 80 refers to a virtual room table, a tag table, etc. (not shown) in the database 83 and executes a virtual room search (S204).

[0040] The CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) transmits the virtual room search result (S205) obtained based on the database 83 to the smartphone 6b as a virtual room search response (S206). The virtual room search response includes information regarding the virtual room record for the virtual room that was the search target. The CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b displays a virtual room search screen on the touch panel display unit 68 (S207). User B refers to the virtual room search screen displayed on the touch panel display unit 68 and inputs a participation request to the smartphone 6b to the virtual room that the user wishes to participate in (S208).

[0041] When the CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b receives an operation of a virtual room participation request by the user B (S208), it transmits a virtual room participation request (S209) including an ID to be used in the virtual room to the mediation server 80. At this time, the CPU 61 of the smartphone 6b displays a virtual room participation standby screen on the touch panel display unit 68 (S210).

[0042] The CPU 81 (karaoke management unit 81a) receives a virtual room participation request from the smartphone 6b (S209), confirms the ID, and then transmits a virtual room participation response permitting the smartphone 6b to participate in the virtual room (S213). A virtual room participation result screen is displayed on the touch panel display unit 68 of the smartphone 6b (S214). In this state, the smartphone 6b is in a state of participating in the virtual room. Incidentally, the CPU 30 also executes the same processing as described above in the karaoke device 2, and the karaoke device 2 is in a state of participating in the virtual room. Since the smartphones 6a and 6b and the karaoke device 2 have entered the same virtual room, it becomes possible to execute karaoke among the smartphones 6a and 6b and the karaoke device 2.

[0043] <Reservation processing> Next, the reservation process will be described. Hereinafter, as an example, the case where a reservation is made by the remote control device 1 of the karaoke device 2 will be described. When a reservation button (not shown) displayed on the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 is touched, the CPU 15 starts the reservation process. In the reservation process, a music search is performed using a music search screen (not shown) displayed on the touch panel monitor 11. Next, when the music displayed on the touch panel monitor 11 is touched and the music is specified, the CPU 15 displays a music confirmation screen (not shown) for the music. A music confirmation column (not shown) is displayed on the music confirmation screen. In the music confirmation column, for the selected music, an icon (such as album art), the music name, the artist name, and a reservation button (not shown) and a cancel button (not shown) are displayed. When the user C checks the information displayed on this music confirmation screen and makes a reservation, the user touches the reservation button. When the reservation button is touched, the CPU 15 determines that there is a reservation operation and transmits the music reservation information to the mediation server 80. The reservation information is composed of a user ID indicating the user who made the reservation and a music ID indicating the music. The mediation server 80 registers the received reservation information in a reservation list (not shown) in the storage device. In the reservation list, the reservation of the song for which the performance has started is deleted, and the song in the next reservation order moves up to the first song in the reservation list. Note that the above reservation process can also be executed by the CPUs 61 of the smartphones 6a and 6b.

[0044] <Acoustic effect sharing process> Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the acoustic effect sharing process will be described. The acoustic effect sharing process is a process for sharing acoustic effects among the karaoke devices 2 and the smartphones 6a and 6b that participate in the same virtual room. Hereinafter, as an example, the case where the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 used by the user C executes the acoustic effect sharing process will be described. Note that the program for the acoustic effect sharing process may be executed by the CPUs 61 of the smartphones 6a and 6b. In the karaoke device 2, the program for the acoustic effect sharing process is stored in the hard disk 32 and read and executed by the CPU 30. The flowchart of FIG. 9 is the process when the karaoke device 2 functions as the first device. When the acoustic effect sharing process shown in FIG. 9 is started, in the initial state, the reception of the setting of the first acoustic effect is enabled. Next, when the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 receives a music performance instruction for the first song in the reservation list from the mediation server 80, it starts playing the music (S1). Next, when the user C starts singing and voice is input from the microphone 43a or 43b, the CPU 30 determines that the user is singing (S2: YES) and enables the reception of the setting of the second acoustic effect (S3). As an example, the CPU 30 stores in the memory 27 by turning on a reception enable flag indicating whether or not the reception of the setting of the second acoustic effect is valid (S3). Next, when an instruction for setting an acoustic effect is input from any of the touch panel monitor 33, the operation unit 21, or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 (S4: YES), the CPU 30 sets the instructed acoustic effect (S5). Note that if it is determined as NO in the determination of S4, the CPU 30 advances the process to S15.

[0045] Next, the setting of the acoustic effect (S5) will be described. As described above, the acoustic effect includes a first acoustic effect and a second acoustic effect. In the process of S3, since the reception of the setting of the second acoustic effect is enabled, in the setting process of the acoustic effect (S5), both the first acoustic effect and the second acoustic effect are set. The first acoustic effect is also called the acoustic effect of entertainment sound. In this embodiment, it is voice change. In the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect shown in FIG. 5, the ID number and the content of the voice change are associated, grouped, and stored in a list. As an example, ID: 1.1 is a female voice, ID: 1.2 is a male voice, ID: 2.1 is a techno voice, and ID: 2.2 is a voice guitar. As shown in FIG. 5, since ID: 1.1 (female voice) and ID: 1.2 (male voice) are of the same type as human voices, they are in the same group. ID: 2.1 (techno voice) and ID: 2.2 (voice guitar) are of the same type as mechanical sounds of special effects, so they are grouped and stored in a list so as to be in the same group. Therefore, the CPU 30 that has detected that the user C has operated any one of the touch panel monitor 33, the operation unit 21, or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 stores and sets any one of the parameters ("1.1", "1.2", "2.1", "2.2") of the selected first acoustic effect in the memory 27 (S5).

[0046] Next, the second acoustic effect will be described. As described above, the second acoustic effect is also called the acoustic effect of the basic sound. In this embodiment, as an example, it is echo, reverb, and microphone volume. Each is set within a numerical range of 0 to 100, and the greater the numerical value, the greater the acoustic effect. The CPU 30 that has detected that the user C has operated any one of the touch panel monitor 33, the operation unit 21, or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 stores and sets the type and respective numerical values (parameters) of the second acoustic effect of echo, reverb, and microphone volume in the memory 27 (S5).

[0047] Next, the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 outputs, from the speaker 42, the voice obtained by reflecting the first acoustic effect and the second acoustic effect set in S5 on the voice input from the microphone 43a or 43b, and the music (S6). Next, the CPU 30 controls the LAN communication unit 24a or the wireless LAN communication unit 24b with the ID parameter of the first acoustic effect and the type and respective numerical values (parameters) of the second acoustic effect stored in S5, and via the LAN 100 or the router 120, via the Internet 3, and via the mediation server 80, transmits them to the smartphones 6a and 6b participating in the same virtual room (S7).

[0048] Still, in the determination of S2, when no voice is input from the microphone 43a or 43b of the karaoke device 2 and the CPU 30 does not determine that singing is in progress (S2: YES), the acceptance of the setting of the second acoustic effect is invalidated (S9: YES). As an example, the CPU 30 stores the reception enable flag in the memory 27 as OFF and stores it to invalidate the acceptance of the setting of the second acoustic effect (S9). The process of S9 is executed so that, by the operation of the user C who is not singing, the echo, reverb, and microphone volume of the user of the singing smartphone 6a or 6b are not changed so that the user can sing comfortably.

[0049] When the CPU 30 detects that the user C has operated any one of the female voice setting button 68g, male voice setting button 68h, techno voice setting button 68i, and voice guitar setting button 68j of the voice change setting unit 68f on the touch panel monitor 33, the operation unit 21, or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 (S10), the CPU 30 stores and sets the ID (parameter) of the first acoustic effect in the memory 27 (S11).

[0050] Next, the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 outputs, from the speaker 42, the voice reflecting the first acoustic effect set in S11 from the voice input from the microphone 43a or 43b, and the music (S12). Next, the CPU 30 controls the LAN communication unit 24a or the wireless LAN communication unit 24b with the ID parameter of the first acoustic effect stored in S11, and transmits it via the LAN 100 or the router 120, through the Internet 3, via the mediation server 80, to the smartphones 6a and 6b participating in the same virtual room (S13).

[0051] Next, with reference to FIG. 10, as an example, the case where the karaoke device 2 receives the parameter of the first acoustic effect or the parameter of the second acoustic effect transmitted from the smartphone 6a will be described. The flowchart of FIG. 10 is the processing when the karaoke device 2 functions as the second device. As shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 determines whether it has received the parameter of the first acoustic effect sent from the smartphone 6a of the user A via the mediation server 80 (S15: YES). For example, on the smartphone 6a, when any one of the female voice setting button 68g, male voice setting button 68h, techno voice setting button 68i, and voice guitar setting button 68j of the voice change setting unit 68f on the remote control screen 68a shown in FIG. 3 is operated, any one of the parameter IDs of the first acoustic effect: 1.1, ID: 1.2, ID: 2.1, and ID: 2.2 is transmitted from the smartphone 6a to the karaoke device 2 via the mediation server 80, and the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 receives the transmitted parameter of the first acoustic effect (S15: YES). Incidentally, in the process of S15, the voice transmitted from the device that is singing is also received. Also, in the process of S15, the parameter of the first acoustic effect transmitted from the smartphone 6b of the user B can be received in the same manner as above.

[0052] For example, when the CPU 30 receives ID: 1.1 as the parameter of the first acoustic effect (S15: YES), the CPU 30 refers to the received parameter of the first acoustic effect (ID: 1.1) and the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect stored in the hard disk 32 (S16). Next, the CPU 30 determines whether the received parameter ID: 1.1 of the first acoustic effect matches the parameter stored in the hard disk 32 (S17). For example, if ID: 1.1 (female voice) exists in the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect stored in the hard disk 32, it is determined that they match (S17: YES), and the process proceeds to S18. Next, the CPU 30 stores and sets ID: 1.1 (female voice) in the memory 27 (S18). Next, the CPU 30 reflects the parameter ID: 1.1 (female voice) of the first acoustic effect on the voice input from the microphone 43a or 43b of the karaoke device 2, and reproduces the voice input from the microphone 43a or 43b as a female voice even if the voice is a male voice (S20).

[0053] Also, in the determination process of S17, for example, if ID: 1.1 (female voice) is not present in the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect, it is determined that they do not match (S17: NO), and the process proceeds to S19. Next, if the CPU 30 has only three IDs, namely ID: 1.2 (male voice), ID: 2.1 (techno voice), and ID: 2.2 (voice guitar) in the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect stored in the hard disk 32, the ID that is most similar, ID: 1.2 (male voice), is reflected in the voice received from the karaoke device 2, and the voice is reproduced as a male voice (S20). Also, for example, if the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect has ID: 1.15 (child's voice), since it is more similar to ID: 1.1 (female voice) than ID: 1.2 (male voice), it may be reproduced by reflecting the child's voice in the voice received from the karaoke device 2 (S20). Note that in the determination process of S17, the CPU 30 may select and set another acoustic effect belonging to the same group from among the parameter tables 63a that are databases of the list of the first acoustic effects. After that, the CPU 30 outputs the voice with the first acoustic effect reflected in the reproduction sound of the voice input from the microphone 43a or 43b in the same manner as described above (S20). Next, when the music playback ends (S21: YES), the CPU 30 proceeds to S1. When the music playback has not ended (S21: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S2.

[0054] Also, in the determination process of S15, when the CPU 30 does not receive the parameters of the first acoustic effect (S15: NO) and receives the parameters of the second acoustic effect (S22: YES), it determines whether to accept the received second acoustic effect (S23). For example, when voice is input from the microphone 43a or 43b, since the user C is a singer and in order to prevent the second acoustic effect set by the singer from being changed for the singer to sing comfortably, it is determined not to accept the received second acoustic effect (S23: NO). Next, the CPU 30 advances the process to S21. Also, when no voice is input from the microphone 43a or 43b, the CPU 30 determines to accept the parameters of the received second acoustic effect (S23: YES). This is because the user C is not a singer, so there is no problem even if the second acoustic effect, which is a setting for the singer to sing comfortably, is changed. In the karaoke device 2, next, the CPU 30 stores and sets the parameters of the received second acoustic effect in the memory 27 (S24). Next, the CPU 30 outputs the voice with the second acoustic effect reflected (S20). Next, when the music playback ends (S21: YES), the CPU 30 advances the process to S1. When the music playback has not ended (S21: NO), the CPU 30 advances the process to S2. In the process of S22, the voice transmitted from the singing device is also received. Also, in the process of S22, not only the parameters of the second acoustic effect transmitted from the smartphone 6a of the user A but also the parameters of the second acoustic effect transmitted from the smartphone 6b can be received in the same manner as above. Note that the above processes from S1 to S24 are executed not only by the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2 but also by the CPUs 61 of the smartphones 6a and 6b.

[0055] According to the above-described embodiment, the acoustic effects can be shared between the karaoke device 2 that can communicate via a network such as the Internet 3 and the smartphones 6a and 6b. Further, when the karaoke device 2 and the smartphones 6a and 6b do not have the acoustic effects set in another device (either the karaoke device 2 or one of the smartphones 6a and 6b), similar acoustic effects can be used as a substitute. Further, when the karaoke device 2 and the smartphones 6a and 6b do not have the acoustic effects set in another device, another acoustic effect belonging to the same group can be selected from the parameter table 63a of the list of the first acoustic effects as a substitute. Further, since the second acoustic effect is set when the voice of singing a song is input to the microphones 43a, 43b, and 67b in the karaoke device or the smartphone 6a, it is possible to prevent the second acoustic effect from being changed against the will of the singer of the song.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, either the karaoke device 2 or the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "first device" of the present invention. Either the karaoke device 2 or the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "second device" of the present invention. Either the microphones 43a and 43b of the karaoke device 2 or the microphone 67b of the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "first input unit" of the present invention. Either the speaker 42 of the karaoke device 2 or the speaker 67a of the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "first output unit" of the present invention. The CPUs 30 and 61 are examples of the "first control unit" of the present invention. The process of S5 is an example of the "first setting process" of the present invention. The process of S6 is an example of the "first output process" of the present invention. The process of S7 is an example of the "transmission process" of the present invention. The Internet 3 is an example of the "network" of the present invention. Either the microphones 43a and 43b of the karaoke device 2 or the microphone 67b of the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "second input unit" of the present invention. Either the speaker 42 of the karaoke device 2 or the speaker 67a of the smartphones 6a and 6b is an example of the "second output unit" of the present invention. Either of the CPUs 30 and 61 is an example of the "second control unit" of the present invention. The process of S15 is an example of the "reception process" of the present invention. The processes of S18, S19, and S24 are examples of the "second setting process" of the present invention. The process of S20 is an example of the "second output process" of the present invention. The CPUs 30 and 61 are examples of the "processor" of the present invention. The first acoustic effect parameter table 63a is an example of the "database of the list of acoustic effects" of the present invention. The parameters of the first acoustic effect and the parameters of the second acoustic effect are examples of the "setting information" of the present invention.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. The first device and the second device are not limited to the smartphone 6, and any device equipped with a display unit, a voice input unit, and an output unit is applicable. For example, various information processing devices such as a personal computer, a game device, a tablet, a mobile phone, etc. can be used. Also, the number of devices participating in the virtual room is not limited to three, and a plurality of devices may be used. The first device is not limited to the karaoke device 2, and a smartphone 6 may also be used. Further, the parameter table 63a of the first acoustic effect and the parameter table 63b of the second acoustic effect may be stored in the database 83 of the mediation server 80 and referred to via the Internet 3.

[0058] Also, on the remote control screen 68a of the touch panel display unit 68 of the smartphone 6, when no voice of singing a song is input to the microphones 67b of the smartphones 6a, 6b, as shown in FIG. 3, the echo setting button 68d and the reverb setting button 68e may be displayed in gray and may not react even when touched. Therefore, when no voice of singing a song is input to the microphones 67b of the smartphones 6a, 6b, the second acoustic effect cannot be set. Note that the determination process of S2 may be determined according to whether the karaoke device 2, the smartphones 6a, 6b are set to the singer mode or the listener mode, rather than whether a voice of singing is input to the microphones 43a, 43b of the karaoke device 2 and the microphones 67b of the smartphones 6a, 6b. And according to the determination result, whether to accept the setting of the second acoustic effect may be changed. The singer mode or the listener mode may be set such that the terminal that reserved the song becomes the singer mode and the other terminals become the listener mode. Also, in the above embodiment, the CPU 61, the acoustic processing unit 66, and the image processing unit 64 are separate, but the acoustic processing unit 66 and the image processing unit 64 may be built in the CPU 61.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0059] 2: Karaoke device 3: Internet 6, 6a, 6b: Smartphones 10: Karaoke system 43a, 43b, 67b: Microphone 42, 67a: Speaker 30, 61: CPU 63a: First acoustic effect parameter table 63b: Second acoustic effect parameter table

Claims

1. A karaoke system in which a first device and a second device can communicate with each other via a network, wherein the first device includes a first input unit for inputting voice, a first output unit for outputting sound, and a first control unit for controlling the first device, and the first control unit performs a first setting process for setting acoustic effects, performs playback of a music piece, applies the acoustic effects to the voice input from the first input unit, and outputs the result from the first output unit, and executes a transmission process of transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effects and the input voice to the second device, wherein the second device includes a second input unit for inputting voice, a second output unit for outputting sound, and a second control unit for controlling the second device, and the second control unit performs a reception process of receiving the setting information of the acoustic effects and the voice transmitted in the transmission process of the first device, performs a second setting process for performing the setting process of the acoustic effects received in the reception process, and performs playback of the music piece and applies the acoustic effects to the voice received in the reception process and outputs the result from the second output unit A karaoke system characterized by performing the above operations.

2. When the second device does not have the acoustic effects indicated by the setting information of the acoustic effects received from the first device, the second control unit sets an acoustic effect approximate to the acoustic effect in the second setting process. The karaoke system according to claim 1.

3. When the second device does not have the acoustic effects indicated by the setting information of the acoustic effects received from the first device, the second control unit selects and sets another acoustic effect belonging to the same group from a database of a list of grouped acoustic effects in the second setting process. The karaoke system according to claim 2.

4. The acoustic effects include a first acoustic effect and a second acoustic effect different from the first acoustic effect, and the second control unit sets the first acoustic effect received in the reception process in the second setting process, and the second acoustic effect is set when the voice for singing the music piece is input to the first input unit in the first device. The karaoke system according to claim 1.

5. When the voice for singing the music is not input to the second input unit, the second control unit accepts the setting of the first acoustic effect from the user operating the second device, but does not accept the setting of the second acoustic effect. The karaoke system according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. The second control unit transmits the received setting of the first acoustic effect to the first device. The karaoke system according to claim 5, characterized in that the first device performs the received setting of the first acoustic effect.

7. The first acoustic effect is voice change, and the second acoustic effect is echo or reverb. The karaoke system according to claim 4, characterized in that.

8. A karaoke device capable of communicating with other devices via a network. The karaoke device includes an input unit for inputting voice, an output unit for outputting sound, and a control unit for controlling the karaoke device. The control unit A first setting process for performing a setting process of an acoustic effect. A first output process for playing a music and applying the acoustic effect to the voice input from the input unit and outputting it from the output unit. A transmission process for transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effect and the input voice to the other device. A reception process for receiving the setting information of the acoustic effect and the voice transmitted from the other device. A second setting process for performing a setting process of the acoustic effect received in the reception process. A second output process for playing the music and applying the acoustic effect to the voice received in the reception process and outputting it from the output unit. A karaoke device characterized by executing the above.

9. A program for a karaoke device that can communicate with other devices via a network, includes an input unit for inputting voice, an output unit for outputting sound, and a processor, and is executable by the processor of the karaoke device. To the processor A first setting process for performing a setting process of an acoustic effect. A first output process for playing a music and applying the acoustic effect to the voice input from the input unit and outputting it from the output unit. A transmission process for transmitting the setting information of the acoustic effect and the input voice to the other device. A reception process for receiving the setting information of the acoustic effect and the voice transmitted from the other device. A second setting process for performing a setting process of the acoustic effect received in the reception process. A second output process that plays the music and applies the acoustic effect to the voice received in the reception process and outputs the voice from the output unit A program for a karaoke device, characterized by causing the program to be executed.

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