Karaoke device and karaoke program

Abstract

To provide a karaoke device and a karaoke program for enabling even a user who cannot read a musical score to keep a pitch of a chorus section.SOLUTION: A karaoke device 2 includes a sound controller 25 that reproduces a musical piece based on musical piece information, and a CPU 30. The CPU 30 controls the sound controller 25 based on the musical piece data to reproduce the musical piece. The CPU 30 executes display determination processing and displays, on a monitor 41, a chorus pitch line at least indicating a pitch of a chorus section. Therefore, even a user who cannot read a musical score can sing without being off the pitch of the chorus section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a karaoke device and a karaoke program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a karaoke device that displays a lyric caption for the main singing part, which is the standard part, on the main monitor of the karaoke device when a karaoke song is being played, and displays a lyric caption for the chorus part, a scale display for the chorus part, and the musical score for the chorus part on the monitor of the remote control device. The scale display displays "upper harmony" if the chorus part is higher in pitch than the main singing part, and "lower harmony" if it is lower. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-126524 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the karaoke device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the scale display section on the monitor of the remote control device simply displays "Upper Harmony" if the chorus section is higher than the main singing section, and "Lower Harmony" if it is lower, which creates the problem that users who cannot read music have difficulty hitting the right pitch for the chorus section.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke device and a karaoke program that allow even users who cannot read music to easily hit the right notes in the chorus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A karaoke device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a karaoke device comprising a playback unit that plays music based on music information, and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the playback unit to play the music based on the music information, and also executes a chorus pitch line display process that displays a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of at least the chorus part on a display unit.

[0007] According to the karaoke device of the first aspect of the present invention, a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of the chorus section is displayed on the display unit, so that even users who cannot read music can sing without shifting the pitch of the chorus section.

[0008] A karaoke program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a karaoke program executed by a control unit of a karaoke device that includes a playback unit that plays music based on music information and a control unit, and is characterized in that the control unit controls the playback unit to play the music based on the music information, and executes a chorus pitch line display process that displays a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of at least the chorus part on a display unit.

[0009] According to the karaoke program of the second aspect of the present invention, a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of the chorus section is displayed on the display unit, so that even users who cannot read music can sing without shifting the pitch of the chorus section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 2 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of a karaoke device 2 and a remote control device 1. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 11. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of music data. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of lyrics caption display information data. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of guide display information data. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart of a display determination process. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of a main singing line display position determination process. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of a screen display on the monitor 41. [Figure 9] 10 is an example of a screen display on the monitor 41. [Figure 10] 10 is an example of a screen display on the monitor 41. [Figure 11] 10 is an example of a screen display on the monitor 41. [Figure 12] 10 is an example of the screen display on the monitor 41 and the monitor 42 in dual screen display mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drawings are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. In other words, the configurations, controls, etc. shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0012] <Display of pitch lines 41a and 41b> As an example, the present invention relates to an invention that makes it easier for users to hit the right pitch in the chorus section (backing chorus) by displaying pitch lines 41b to guide the chorus section (backing chorus). In the display example shown in FIG. 9, both pitch lines 41a to guide the pitch of the main vocal section (main melody or main chorus) and pitch lines 41b to guide the pitch of the chorus section are displayed on the monitor 41 (42) superimposed on five lines 41c indicating the pitch range. This state is called "full" display. Pitch line 41a indicates the pitch of the main vocal section, and pitch line 41b indicates the pitch of the chorus section. Pitch lines 41a and 41b are each displayed at a predetermined length and pitch position relative to five lines 41c indicating the pitch range in accordance with the pitch. Additionally, a progression line 41d indicating the progression of the song is displayed vertically in red on the monitor 41. In the display example shown in FIG. 10, only pitch line 41b to guide the chorus section is displayed. This state is called a "harmony" display. In the example display shown in Fig. 11, the display is "full," but because the pitch of the main vocal section is higher (higher) than that of the chorus section, the pitch line 41a of the main vocal section is displayed attached to the top of the five lines 41c indicating the pitch range, in contrast to the pitch line 41b that guides the chorus section. In the example display shown in Fig. 8, only the pitch line 41a of the main vocal section is displayed. This state is called "standard," and is a conventional display method in which the pitch line 41b of the chorus section is not displayed.

[0013] <Electrical configuration of karaoke device 2> The electrical configuration of the karaoke device 2 (also called a "commander") of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. The karaoke device 2 is connected to a LAN 100 and to the Internet 3 via a router 120. The remote control device 1 is connected to the Internet 3 via an access point 130, the LAN 100, and the router 120.

[0014] The karaoke device 2 includes a CPU 30 that controls each component of the karaoke device 2. The CPU 30 is connected to the audio control unit 25, memory 27, video RAM 28, video playback unit 29, hard disk 32, infrared communication unit 23, LAN communication unit 24a, wireless LAN communication unit 24b, and operation processing unit 22. The CPU 30 controls each component. The CPU 30 also executes a song reservation process, a song playback process, a display determination process (described later), and a main singing line display position determination process. The song reservation process is a process for specifying and reserving a song based on a user's selection, and is executed by the CPU 30 in cooperation with the remote control device 1. The reservation information generated by the song selection process on the remote control device 1 is sent 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 process is a process for playing back a reserved song, and the song performance process and lyric display process are executed synchronously. The memory 27 also temporarily stores data required for the execution of the above processes.

[0015] The audio control unit 25 functions as a playback unit for playing music. The audio control unit 25 is also connected to microphones 43a and 43b for inputting audio and a speaker 44 for outputting music. The video playback unit 29 is connected to a video control unit 31, which is connected to monitors 41 and 42 and a touch panel monitor 33 external to the karaoke device 2. The video playback unit 29 plays video based on video information. The video playback unit 29 is also connected to the video control unit 31, which overlays lyrics captions on the played video and applies visual effects. The touch panel monitor 33 is composed of a display unit 35 that displays video information input from the video control unit 31 and a touch panel 34 that outputs touch-input positions to the operation processing unit 22. The touch panel monitor 33 is located on the front of the housing of the karaoke device 2 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. By selecting a song on the touch panel monitor 33, the user can directly reserve the song on the karaoke device 2 and perform various other operations on the karaoke device 2. Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 can display various types of information on the touch panel monitor 33 in addition to the monitors 41 and 42 connected externally.

[0016] The video RAM 28 is connected to the CPU 30 and the video playback unit 29 and temporarily stores the video to be played. The video control unit 31 is also connected to monitors 41 and 42 provided outside the karaoke device 2. The monitor 42 is not necessarily provided, and only the monitor 41 may be provided. The monitors 41 and 42 display lyric videos, background videos, a main singing section pitch line 41a (see FIG. 9) and a chorus section pitch line 41b (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, and the like. The video control unit 31 is also connected to a camera 43, which can capture images of the user singing and other scenes within the karaoke store. The operation processing unit 22 is connected to an operation unit 21 and a touch panel monitor 33. The operation unit 21 accepts various inputs from the user. The operation processing unit 22 interprets the inputs from the operation unit 21 and transmits them to the CPU 30.

[0017] The hard disk 32 functions as a storage unit that stores various programs and various information. For example, the hard disk 32 also stores a display determination process program and a main singing line display position determination process program, which will be described later. The infrared communication unit 23 communicates with the remote control device 1 via infrared rays. The LAN communication unit 24a connects to the LAN 100 to establish a network connection. The wireless LAN communication unit 24b establishes a wireless network connection.

[0018] The music performance process executed by the CPU 30 is a process for causing the audio control unit 25 to perform a performance based on the performance information included in the music information. The music performed by the audio control unit 25 is output from the speaker 44 together with the singing voice input from the microphones 43a and 43b. The lyrics display process executed by the CPU 30 is a process for providing singing assistance by displaying the lyrics information included in the music information on the monitor 41. A background video display process may be executed to superimpose a background video on the lyrics displayed in this lyrics display process.

[0019] <Electrical configuration of remote control device 1> Next, the remote control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The remote control device 1 includes a CPU 15 that controls the remote control device 1. The CPU 15 is connected to a video control unit 13, a memory 14, an operation processing unit 18, an infrared communication unit 19, and a wireless LAN communication unit 16. The memory 14 stores databases and various programs required for music selection processing, as well as various information generated by program execution. The video control unit 13 is connected to a video RAM 12, which temporarily stores video information to be displayed. The video control unit 13 also generates images to be displayed on the CPU 15 and touch panel monitor 11. The operation processing unit 18 is connected to the CPU 15, the touch panel monitor 11, or the operation unit 17, and interprets inputs from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17 and transmits them to the CPU 15. The operation unit 17 and the touch panel monitor 11 function as a user interface that accepts various instructions from the user. The touch panel monitor 11 is configured with a display unit 11a and a touch panel 11b. As an example, as shown in Fig. 2, the display unit 11a displays operation buttons for various functions, and the touch panel 11b can accept touch input from the user. The screen shown in Fig. 2 displays a setting screen for the display determination process, which will be described later.

[0020] The remote control device 1 is connected to the network formed by the LAN 100 by wirelessly connecting to the access point 130 via the wireless LAN communication unit 16. 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.

[0021] The remote control device 1 of this embodiment also includes an infrared communication unit 19, which can transmit various commands to the karaoke device 2 using the infrared communication unit 19 instead of the wireless LAN communication unit 16. The transmitted commands are received by the infrared communication unit 23 of the karaoke device 2 and input to the CPU 30.

[0022] With the above-described configuration, the remote control device 1 can receive various inputs from the user via the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17. Furthermore, the remote control device 1 can display video information on the touch panel monitor 11 and provide various information, thereby performing various processes such as song selection processing for transmitting reservation information to be output to the karaoke device 2.

[0023] The remote control device 1 can search for songs based on instructions from the user and execute a song selection process to transmit reservation information for the song instructed to be played to the karaoke device 2. The remote control device 1 can also receive various information from the karaoke device 2 or an intermediary server (not shown) connected to the Internet 3 and execute various processes.

[0024] <Various data> An example of song data 60 played by the karaoke device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. A plurality of pieces of song data 60 are stored on the hard disk 32, each corresponding to a song number. The song data 60 includes a song number 61, performance data 62, background video data 63, lyric caption display information data 64, guide display information data 65, etc. The song number 61 is an identification number assigned to each song. The performance data 62 is data for playing a song, and is, for example, data conforming to the MIDI (registered trademark) standard. The performance data 62 includes performance data for the main vocal section (also called the main melody or main chorus) and performance data for the chorus section (also called the backing chorus). The background video data 63 is data for a background video displayed on the monitors 41, 42, the touch panel monitor 33, etc. when a song is played.

[0025] An example of the lyrics caption display information data 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The lyrics caption display information data 64 is used to display lyrics on the monitors 41, 42, etc. The lyrics caption display information data 64 includes the category, lyrics, ruby, whether or not to change colors, first display color, second display color, font size, font type, vocal type, display start time, color change start time, color change speed, display erasure time, etc. The vocal type may be determined as follows: the music data includes a main vocal part and a chorus part as shown in FIG. 4; only a main vocal part (not shown); only a chorus part; or neither a main vocal part nor a chorus part. Based on the lyrics caption display information data 64, the CPU 30 displays and changes the color of lyrics captions 41e for the main vocal part and lyrics captions 41f for the chorus part as shown in FIGS. 8 to 12.

[0026] An example of the guide display information data 65 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The guide display information data 65 is used to display the pitch line 41a of the main singing section and the pitch line 41b of the chorus section of a song on the monitors 41, 42, etc. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the song data includes data on the main singing section and the chorus section, so the guide display information data 65 includes data on the start time, pitch, and duration of the pitch line 41a of the main singing section and the start time, pitch, and duration of the pitch line 41b of the chorus section. If the song data includes only data on the main singing section, the guide display information data 65 includes data on only the pitch line 41a of the main singing section of the song. Based on the guide display information data 65, the CPU 30 displays the pitch line 41a of the main singing section and the pitch line 41b of the chorus section of the song, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 12.

[0027] <Display determination process> Next, the display determination process will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 6. Fig. 2 shows an example of a display on the display unit 11a of the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1. Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of the display determination process executed by the CPU 30 of the karaoke device 2. When the karaoke device 2 is powered on, the CPU 30 reads and executes a program for the display determination process from the hard disk 32. The display determination process is a process for determining and setting how the pitch line 41a for the main singing part and the pitch line 41b for the chorus part of a song should be displayed on the monitors 41, 42, etc., when the song is played. In the following embodiment, an example will be described in which one or both of the monitors 41, 42 are used.

[0028] 2 shows a state in which a setting screen for a "visible guide melody" is displayed on the display unit 11a of the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1. When the CPU 15 detects that a performance operation button (not shown) displayed on the display unit 11a has been touched, the CPU 15 displays the setting screen for a "visible guide melody" shown in FIG. 2 on the display unit 11a.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, buttons 111 to 118 are displayed on the display unit 11a of the touch panel monitor 11. Buttons 111 to 114 are buttons for instructing "display settings." "Display settings" refers to a setting for whether or not to display the main vocal pitch line 41a and the chorus vocal pitch line 41b. Button 111 displays "Do not display," and is touched when neither the main vocal pitch line 41a nor the chorus vocal pitch line 41b is displayed. Button 112 displays "Standard," with "Display only main vocal pitch line" displayed in small letters below it. Button 112 is touched when only the main vocal pitch line 41a is displayed. Button 113 displays "Full," with "Display all" displayed in small letters below it. Button 113 is touched when both the main vocal pitch line 41a and the chorus vocal pitch line 41b are displayed. The button 114 displays "Harmony," and below it, "Display only chorus part" is displayed in small letters. The button 114 is touched when only the chorus part pitch line 41b is to be displayed.

[0030] Furthermore, buttons 115 and 116 are buttons for instructing "emphasis display setting." "Emphasis display setting" refers to a setting as to which of the main vocal part pitch line 41a or the chorus part pitch line 41b is to be emphasized when displayed. Button 115 displays "Standard," and below it displays "Emphasis on main vocal part" in small letters. Button 115 is operated by touching when emphasis is to be placed on the main vocal part pitch line 41a when displayed. Button 116 displays "Harmony," and below it displays "Emphasis on chorus part" in small letters. Button 116 is operated by touching when emphasis is to be placed on the chorus part pitch line 41b when displayed.

[0031] Furthermore, buttons 117 and 118 are buttons for instructing "display screen settings." "Display screen settings" refers to settings for how the display will be performed on monitor 41 (corresponding to screen 1) and monitor 42 (corresponding to screen 2). Button 117 displays "standard," and below it, "same display on screens 1 / 2" is displayed in small letters. Button 117 is operated by touching when the same screen is to be displayed on monitors 41 and 42. Button 118 displays "dual screen display," and below it, "screen 1: main vocal section" and "screen 2: chorus section" are displayed in small letters. Button 118 is operated by touching when the pitch line 41a of the main vocal section is to be displayed on monitor 41, and the pitch line 41b of the chorus section is to be displayed on monitor 42.

[0032] 1, the touch operation information of the buttons 111 to 118 is transmitted from the operation processing unit 18 of the remote control device 1 via the CPU 15 and then from the infrared communication unit 19 to the infrared communication unit 23 of the karaoke device 2 by infrared rays. The touch operation information of the buttons 111 to 118 received by the infrared communication unit 23 of the karaoke device 2 is input to the CPU 30 and stored as user operation information in the memory 27. Note that the touch operation information of the buttons 111 to 118 may also be transmitted from the remote control device 1 to the karaoke device 2 via the Internet 3.

[0033] An example of the display determination process will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. The "display determination process" is a process that determines what kind of display to display on the monitors 41, 42 and controls the display based on that determination. When the karaoke device 2 is powered on, the CPU 30 reads a program for the display determination process from the hard disk 32 and executes the display determination process in parallel with the song performance process. In the song performance process, the CPU 30 reads the reservation number of the song to be played next from the reservation table in the memory 27, and reads the song data 60 (see FIG. 3) corresponding to that reservation number from the hard disk 32. In the following example, a case will be described where the performance data 62 to be played next includes both performance data for the main vocal section and performance data for the chorus section.

[0034] <When button 111 is touched> 2 is displayed on the display unit 11a of the remote control device 1, when the "Do not display" button 111 is touched, information on the operation content is transmitted from the remote control device 1 to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information "Do not display guide display" is stored as a display setting in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2. Because the operation information "Do not display guide display" is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Because the operation information "Do not display guide display" is stored as a display setting in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is no guide display for the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b (S2: YES), does not display the guide display for the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b on the monitors 41, 42 (S17), and returns the process to S1.

[0035] <When button 112 is touched> Next, when the button 112 "Standard" is operated as the display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information of "Standard" is stored as the display setting in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27 and the operation information of "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next includes performance data of the chorus section (S3: YES) and the performance data 62 includes performance data of the main singing section (S4: YES), the CPU 30 proceeds to S5. If "standard" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that only the main singing part is to be displayed (S5: YES), and since the chorus part is not to be displayed (S6: NO), the CPU 30 determines that only the main singing part is to be displayed, and displays only the guide display of the pitch line 41a of the main singing part on the monitor 41, as shown in Figure 8 (S12).

[0036] Furthermore, based on the lyric telop display information data 64 shown in Fig. 4, the CPU 30 displays a lyric telop 41e for the main singing section and a lyric telop 41f for the chorus section below the pitch line 41a for the main singing section displayed on the monitor 41 in synchronization with the playback of the music, as shown in Fig. 8. The CPU 30 also performs a lyric color change process to change the color of the lyric telop 41e for the main singing section in synchronization with the playback of the music. Specifically, the CPU 30 changes the color of the text in the lyric telop 41e to red, for example (shown in bold in Fig. 8) so that the progress of the playback of the music can be seen. The CPU 30 then returns the process to S1.

[0037] <When the buttons 113 and 116 are touched, and the button 117 or 118 is touched> Next, when the button 113 "FULL" and the button 116 "HAMOR" are touched as display settings on the "VISIBLE GUIDE MELODY" setting screen, information on the operation details is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information of "FULL" is stored in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2 as the display setting, and the operation information of "HAMOR" is stored as the emphasis display setting. Also, when the button 117 "STANDARD" or the button 116 "DUAL SCREEN DISPLAY" is touched, information on the operation details is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the information on the operation details is stored in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2 as the display screen setting.

[0038] Next, since the operation information of "full" is stored in the memory 27 as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Since the operation information of "full" is stored in the memory 27 as the display setting and the operation information of "do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next contains performance data of the chorus section (S3: YES) and the performance data 62 contains performance data of the main singing section (S4: YES), the CPU 30 proceeds to S5. If "full" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 displays the main singing section (S5: YES) and the chorus section (S6: YES), so the CPU 30 proceeds to S7. When the button 117 is operated as the display screen setting on the "visible guide melody" setting screen and the operation information of "standard" as the display screen setting is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that the display is not a dual screen display (S7: NO). Next, the CPU 30 simultaneously displays both the main vocal part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b on the monitors 41 and 42, respectively, as shown in Fig. 9 (S8).

[0039] Since the button 116 has been touched to indicate emphasis on the "chorus section," when displaying S8, the CPU 30 displays the main singing section pitch line 41a and the chorus section pitch line 41b so that they can be distinguished, as shown in Fig. 9. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the main singing section pitch line 41a is displayed on the monitor 41 darker or lighter than the chorus section pitch line 41b. Thereafter, the CPU 30 returns the process to S1. Note that the CPU 30 may also display the main singing section pitch line 41a on the monitor 41 in the background of the chorus section pitch line 41b.

[0040] Furthermore, based on the lyric caption display information data 64 shown in Fig. 4, the CPU 30 displays a lyric caption 41e for the main singing section and a lyric caption 41f for the chorus section below the pitch line 41a for the main singing section displayed on the monitor 41 in synchronization with the playback of the music, as shown in Fig. 9. The CPU 30 also performs a lyric color change process to change the color of the lyric caption 41e for the main singing section in synchronization with the playback of the music. The CPU 30 also displays the lyric caption 41e for the main singing section and the lyric caption 41f for the chorus section on the monitor 41 so that they can be distinguished by the brightness or density of the display, as shown in Fig. 9.

[0041] Furthermore, if button 118 is operated as a display screen setting and operation information indicating "dual screen display" is stored in memory 27 as the display screen setting, CPU 30 determines that dual screen display is selected (S7: YES), and displays a pitch line 41a for the main vocal section on monitor 41 (screen 1) and a pitch line 41b for the chorus section on monitor 42 (screen 2) (S9), as shown in Fig. 12. Thereafter, CPU 30 returns the process to S1.

[0042] <When button 114 is touched> Next, when button 114 "Harmony" is operated as a display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to karaoke device 2, and operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27 of karaoke device 2. Because operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27, CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to process S2. Because operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27 and operation information for "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), CPU 30 proceeds to process S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next includes performance data for the chorus section (S3: YES) and the performance data 62 includes performance data for the main singing section (S4: YES), CPU 30 proceeds to process S5. If "harmony" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that the main singing section is not being displayed (S5: NO), and determines that only the chorus section is being displayed, and displays only the guide display of the chorus section pitch line 41b on the monitor 41 as shown in Figure 10 (S16), and returns the process to S1.

[0043] Next, an example will be described in which the performance data 62 to be reproduced includes performance data for the main vocal section but does not include performance data for the chorus section.

[0044] <When button 112 is touched> When the button 112 "Standard" is operated as the display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information of "Standard" is stored as the display setting in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Because the operation information of "Standard" is stored as the display setting in the memory 27, and the operation information of "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next does not contain performance data of the chorus section (S3: NO), and the performance data 62 contains performance data of the main singing section (S10: YES), the CPU 30 proceeds to S11. Since "standard" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that the main singing part is to be displayed (S11: YES), and displays only the guide display of the pitch line 41a of the main singing part on the monitor 41, as shown in Figure 8 (S12), and returns the processing to S1.

[0045] Next, an example will be described in which the performance data 62 to be played back does not include performance data for both the main vocal section and the chorus section. For example, one example of the performance data 62 is background music or the like.

[0046] <When button 112 is touched> When the button 112 "Standard" is operated as the display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information of "Standard" is stored in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2 as the display setting. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27, but the operation information of "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next does not include performance data of the chorus part (S3: NO) and also does not include performance data of the main singing part in the performance data 62 (S10: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S13 and does not perform guide display of the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b (S13). After that, the CPU 30 returns the process to S1.

[0047] Next, an example will be described in which the performance data 62 to be played back does not include performance data for the main vocal section, but does include performance data for the chorus section.

[0048] <When button 114 is touched> Next, when button 114 "Harmony" is operated as a display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to karaoke device 2, and operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27 of karaoke device 2. Because operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27, CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to process S2. Because operation information for "Harmony" is stored as a display setting in memory 27 and operation information for "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), CPU 30 proceeds to process S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next contains performance data for the chorus section (S3: YES), but the performance data 62 does not contain performance data for the main singing section (S4: NO), CPU 30 proceeds to process S15. If "Harmony" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that the chorus part is to be displayed (S15: YES), and displays only the guide display of the chorus part pitch line 41b on the monitor 41 as shown in FIG. 10 (S16), and returns the process to S1.

[0049] Next, an example will be described in which the performance data 62 to be played back does not include performance data for the main vocal section, but does include performance data for the chorus section.

[0050] <When button 112 is touched> When the button 112 "Standard" is operated as the display setting on the "Visible Guide Melody" setting screen, information on the operation content is transmitted to the karaoke device 2, and the operation information of "Standard" is stored as the display setting in the memory 27 of the karaoke device 2. Because the operation information of "Standard" as the display setting is stored in the memory 27, the CPU 30 determines that there is user operation information (S1: YES) and proceeds to S2. Because the operation information of "Standard" is stored as the display setting in the memory 27 and the operation information of "Do not display guide display" is not stored (S2: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S3. As described above, the performance data 62 to be played next contains performance data of the chorus section (S3: YES), but the performance data 62 does not contain performance data of the main singing section (S4: NO), the CPU 30 proceeds to S15. If "Standard" is stored as the display setting, the CPU 30 determines that the chorus part is not displayed (S15: NO), and proceeds to S17, where guide display of the main vocal part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b is not performed (S17). After that, the CPU 30 returns the process to S1.

[0051] <Main singing line display position determination process> Next, the main singing line display position determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 9, and 11. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the main singing line display position determination process. The main singing line display position determination process is a subroutine that determines at what position on the five lines 41c indicating the interval range the main singing part pitch line 41a should be displayed in the process of S8 of the display determination process shown in FIG. 6. If the pitch of the main singing part is too far from the pitch of the chorus part, the main singing part pitch line 41a cannot be displayed within the five lines 41c indicating the interval range. Therefore, the CPU 30 executes the main singing line display position determination process to determine the display position of the main singing part pitch line 41a. In accordance with the determination, the CPU 30 simultaneously displays both the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b on the monitors 41 and 42, respectively (S8).

[0052] When the CPU 30 starts the main singing line display position determination process, it extracts the pitch range of the main singing section (S21). Specifically, the CPU 30 extracts the difference between the maximum and minimum pitch values ​​of the main singing section to be displayed in the on-screen display section of the main singing section (the section displayed on the monitor 41 shown in FIG. 9) included in the performance data 62 of the music data shown in FIG. 3 (S21). Next, the CPU 30 extracts the pitch range of the chorus section (S22). Specifically, the CPU 30 extracts the difference between the maximum and minimum pitch values ​​of the chorus section to be displayed in the on-screen display section of the chorus section (the section displayed on the monitor 41 shown in FIG. 9) included in the performance data 62 of the music data shown in FIG. 3 (S22). Next, the CPU 30 extracts the current singing pitch position / pitch (S23). Specifically, the CPU 30 extracts the pitch to be currently uttered (S23).

[0053] Next, CPU 30 sets the current display range (S24). Specifically, based on the main vocal part pitch range extracted in S21 and the chorus part pitch range extracted in S22, CPU 30 estimates which note should be centered to make it easier for the user to sing the chorus part, taking into account the currently to-be-sung pitch extracted in S23, and sets the performance range of five lines 41c indicating the pitch range, as shown in Fig. 11 (S24). As an example, CPU 30 sets the pitch of the currently to-be-sung note of the chorus part so that it is near the center of five lines 41c indicating the pitch range.

[0054] Next, the CPU 30 determines whether the display position of the main singing part's pitch line is outside the current display range (S25). If the main singing part's pitch range extracted in S21 is outside the current display range (five lines 41c) set in S24 (S25: YES), the CPU 30 determines whether the display position of the main singing part's pitch line is shifted upward of the current display range (five lines 41c) (S27). If the CPU 30 determines that the display position of the main singing part's pitch line is shifted upward (S27: YES), it displays the main singing part's pitch line 41a at the upper limit of the current display range (five lines 41c) (the top line of the five lines 41c) as shown in FIG. 11 (S29). The CPU 30 then returns to the display determination process shown in FIG. 6. If the CPU 30 determines that the pitch line for the main singing part is not shifted upward (S27: NO), the display position of the pitch line for the main singing part is shifted downward of the current display range (five lines 41c), and so the CPU 30 displays the pitch line 41a for the main singing part at the lower limit (the bottom line of the five lines 41c) of the current display range (five lines 41c) (S28). The CPU 30 then returns the process to the display determination process shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, if the pitch of the main singing part and the pitch of the chorus part are different by a predetermined pitch or more, the pitch line 41a for the main singing part can be displayed on the monitors 41, 42 in a range smaller than the range that the main singing part originally has.

[0055] If the CPU 30 determines in the determination process of S25 that the pitch range of the main singing part extracted in S21 is not outside the current display range (five lines 41c) set in S24 (S25: NO), it displays the pitch line 41a of the main singing part within the current display range (five lines 41c) (S26), as shown in Fig. 9. Thereafter, the CPU 30 returns the process to the display determination process shown in Fig. 6.

[0056] According to the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the monitor 41 displays the chorus pitch line 41b of the song being performed, allowing even users who cannot read music to sing without shifting the pitch of the chorus. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, if the monitor 41 does not display the main singing pitch line of the song being performed but displays the chorus pitch line 41b, the possibility of the user confusing the main singing pitch line with the chorus pitch line is reduced. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, if the monitor 41 simultaneously displays both the main singing pitch line 41a and the chorus pitch line 41b, the user can sing the chorus part using the chorus pitch line while watching the pitch of the main singing part. By simultaneously displaying the main singing pitch line 41a and the chorus pitch line 41b, the user can visually see how far the pitch of the main singing part and the chorus part are separated, making it easier for the user to sing the chorus part in tune.

[0057] Furthermore, the CPU 30 accepts settings for the main vocal section pitch line and / or the chorus section pitch line of the song to be displayed on the monitors 41, 42, input by the user through operation of the buttons 111-118 on the touch panel 11b of the remote control device 1 (S1), and based on the settings accepted in the processing of S1, the CPU 30 can display the user's desired main vocal section pitch line and / or the chorus section pitch line on the monitors 41, 42. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, the CPU 30 displays the main vocal section pitch line 41a and the chorus section pitch line 41b in a distinguishable manner. Even if the main vocal section pitch line 41a and the chorus section pitch line 41b are displayed simultaneously on the monitors 41, 42, the user can still distinguish between the main vocal section pitch line 41a and the chorus section pitch line 41b.

[0058] 9, the CPU 30 displays the main singing part pitch line 41a on the monitor 41 darker or lighter than the chorus part pitch line 41b. Therefore, even if the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b are displayed simultaneously on the monitors 41 and 42, the user can distinguish between the main singing part pitch line and the chorus part pitch line by the brightness or darkness of the display. Furthermore, because the CPU 30 can display the main singing part pitch line 41a on the monitor 41 closer to the background than the chorus part pitch line 41b, the user can distinguish between the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b even if the main singing part pitch line 41a and the chorus part pitch line 41b are displayed simultaneously on the monitors 41 and 42.

[0059] 11, when the pitch of the main singing section and the pitch of the chorus section are different by more than a predetermined pitch, the CPU 30 displays the pitch lines 41a of the main singing section on the monitors 41 and 42 in a range smaller than the range of the main singing section. Therefore, even when the pitch of the main singing section and the pitch of the chorus section are different by more than a predetermined pitch, the pitch of the main singing section can be displayed within the limited range of the monitors 41 and 42. In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the pitch of the main singing section and the pitch of the chorus section are different by more than a predetermined pitch, the pitch lines 41a of the main singing section are all aligned horizontally at the upper limit (the top line of the five lines 41c) of the current display range (five lines 41c) with the same pitch, but this display is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the pitch lines 41a may be aligned horizontally in two rows of two pitches or three rows of three pitches. In addition, if the pitch of the main singing section and the pitch of the chorus section are not apart by more than a predetermined pitch in some parts and are apart by more than a predetermined pitch in other parts, the CPU 30 may display the parts that are not apart by more than a predetermined pitch within the five lines 41c, and may display the other parts that are apart by more than a predetermined pitch alongside the top line of the five lines 41c or the bottom line of the five lines 41c.

[0060] 4, the CPU 30 displays a lyric telop 41e for the main singing section and a lyric telop 41f for the chorus section below the pitch line 41a for the main singing section displayed on the monitor 41 in synchronization with the playback of the music, as shown in Fig. 9. The CPU 30 also performs a lyric color change process that changes the color of the lyric telop 41e for the main singing section and the lyric telop 41f for the chorus section in synchronization with the playback of the music. Therefore, the lyric color change process that changes the color of the lyric telop in synchronization with the playback of the music allows the user to sing the lyrics of the main singing section and the lyrics of the chorus section along with the music.

[0061] 9, the CPU 30 displays the lyrics captions 41e for the main singing section and the lyrics captions 41f for the chorus section on the monitor 41 in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from each other by the brightness or density of the display. Therefore, even if the lyrics captions for the main singing section and the chorus section are displayed simultaneously, the user can distinguish between the lyrics captions for the main singing section and the lyrics captions for the chorus section by the brightness or density of the display.

[0062] The CPU 30 also determines that dual screen display is required (S7: YES), and displays a pitch line 41a for the main singing part on the monitor 41 (screen 1), and a pitch line 41b for the chorus part on the monitor 42 (screen 2) (S9), as shown in Fig. 12. Therefore, the user singing the main singing part can sing while looking at the monitor 41 (screen 1), and the user singing the chorus part can sing while looking at the monitor 42 (screen 2), so that each singer can sing without misreading the display.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the music data 60 is an example of the "music information" of the present invention. The acoustic control unit 25 is an example of the "playback unit" of the present invention. The CPU 30 is an example of the "control unit" of the present invention. The chorus section pitch line 41b is an example of the "chorus pitch line" of the present invention. Also, the main singing section pitch line 41a is an example of the "main pitch line" of the present invention. The monitors 41 and 42 are an example of the "display unit" of the present invention. Also, the monitors 41 and 42 are examples of the "first display unit, second display unit" of the present invention, respectively. The processes of S8, S9, S16, S26, S28, and S29 are an example of the "karaoke program" of the present invention. The process of S1 is an example of the "reception process" of the present invention.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. The first and second display units are not limited to the monitors 41 and 42, and the touch panel monitor 33 may be either the first or second display unit. In the present invention, only one of the monitors 41 and 42 may be connected as the display unit. Furthermore, multiple remote control devices 1 may be provided for the karaoke device 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1: Remote control device 2: Karaoke equipment 3: Internet 25: Sound control section 30:CPU 41a: Main vocal line 41b: Chorus interval line 41, 42: Monitor 60: Song data

Claims

1. a playback unit that plays music based on the music information; Control unit and A karaoke device comprising: The control unit controls the playback unit to play the song based on the song information, and executes a chorus pitch line display process to display a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of at least the chorus part on a display unit.

2. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not display a main pitch line indicating the pitch of the main singing part of the song on the display unit, but displays the chorus pitch line.

3. 2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit simultaneously displays a main pitch line indicating the pitch of a main singing part of the song and the chorus pitch line on the display unit.

4. the control unit performs an acceptance process of receiving from a user settings of a main interval line and / or a chorus interval line of the music piece to be displayed on the display unit; 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main pitch line and / or the chorus pitch line is displayed on the display unit based on the settings received in the reception process.

5. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit displays the main pitch line and the chorus pitch line on the display unit in a distinguishable manner.

6. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit displays the main pitch line on the display unit darker or lighter than the chorus pitch line.

7. 7. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit displays the main pitch line on the display unit in the background of the chorus pitch line.

8. The karaoke device of any one of claims 3, 5 and 6, characterized in that when the pitch of the main singing part and the pitch of the chorus part are different by a predetermined pitch or more, the control unit displays the main pitch line on the display unit in a range smaller than the range of the main singing part.

9. The karaoke device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 and 6, characterized in that the control unit causes the display unit to display lyric subtitles for the chorus section, and executes a lyric color change process that changes the color of the lyric subtitles in synchronization with the playback of the music.

10. 10. The karaoke device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit displays the lyrics caption of the main singing part of the song and the lyrics caption of the chorus part on the display unit in a manner that makes them distinguishable from each other by changing the brightness or density of the display.

11. the display unit includes at least a first display unit and a second display unit, 7. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit displays the main pitch line on the first display unit and the chorus pitch line on the second display unit.

12. A karaoke program executed by a control unit of a karaoke device including a playback unit that plays back music based on music information, and a control unit, A karaoke program characterized in that the control unit controls the playback unit to play the song based on the song information, and executes a chorus pitch line display process to display a chorus pitch line indicating the pitch of at least the chorus part on a display unit.

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