Acoustic processing device and external acoustic processing device

Abstract

This invention provides an audio processing device that can work in conjunction with an external audio processing device to apply high-load effects. [Solution] In a karaoke system in which an external amplifier, which is an audio processing device, and a karaoke machine, which is an external audio device, are connected, the external amplifier accepts the setting of effects to be applied to the acquired microphone sound, acquires the microphone sound, and determines that an effect request is made if the set effect load is greater than the processing capacity of the external amplifier, requests the connected karaoke machine to process some of the specified effects, and processes the rest as internal effects within the external amplifier.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an acoustic processing device and an external acoustic processing device used in connection with the acoustic processing device.

Background Art

[0002] In the karaoke device described in Patent Document 1, a mixing amplifier as an external device is connected. The mixing amplifier mixes the reproduction signal output from the karaoke device (commander) and the sound from the microphone and outputs it to the speaker. By connecting the mixing amplifier in this way, the karaoke device described in Patent Document 1 can mix the sound from the microphone and the reproduction signal of the karaoke device and output it from the speaker.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In karaoke, the singing voice is processed into a more impressive sound by applying echo to the sound input to the microphone. It is also conceivable to apply echo to the sound signal from the microphone in the mixing amplifier described in Patent Document 1. In the field of electronic musical instruments, various effects are applied to musical sounds. In karaoke, not only echo but also various effects are applied to the sound signal.

[0005] However, in sound processing equipment, applying relatively high-load effects can sometimes be difficult with the equipment alone. This invention addresses this situation and aims to enable sound processing equipment (amplifiers or karaoke machines) to apply effects in cooperation with external sound processing equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Therefore, the sound processing apparatus according to the present invention employs the following configuration. The unit acquires microphone sound, It comprises a designated processing unit, an effect request processing unit, and a control unit that executes internal effect processing, The specified processing specifies the effect to be applied to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit. The effect is composed of multiple unit effects, The effect request process, when an external sound processing device is connected, requests at least one unit effect from the specified effects to the external sound processing device. The internal effects processing applies unit effects to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit, excluding the unit effects that were requested to be sent to the external sound processing unit in the effects request processing, from among the specified effects.

[0007] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The unit effect requested from the external sound processing unit during the effect request process is a unit effect related to the delay component.

[0008] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The sound processing unit is an amplifier and the external sound processing unit is a karaoke machine, or the sound processing unit is a karaoke machine and the external sound processing unit is an amplifier.

[0009] Furthermore, the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention is The unit performs output processing to output the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit to an external sound processing device.

[0010] Furthermore, the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention is The system performs a mixing process that mixes the microphone sound, which has been processed with unit effects by the internal effects processing unit, with the microphone sound, which has been processed with unit effects by the external sound processing unit, and outputs the result.

[0011] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The effect request process, if the specified effect includes a first unit effect, requests the external sound processing device to perform that first unit effect.

[0012] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The unit effect includes the second unit effect, Internal effect processing applies a second-unit effect to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit when an effect request is made; if no effect request is made, no second-unit effect is applied to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0013] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The control unit is The designation acceptance process allows the designation of a second unit effect if an external sound processing device is connected, and does not allow the designation of a second unit effect if an external sound processing device is not connected.

[0014] Furthermore, in the acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, Each unit effect has a load assigned to it, and each sound processing unit has a processing capacity value assigned to it. The effect request process requests unit effects from an external sound processing device so that the total load of the unit effects does not exceed the processing capacity value.

[0015] Furthermore, in the external acoustic processing apparatus according to the present invention, The unit acquires microphone sound, It comprises an effect request acceptance process and a control unit that executes external effect processing, The effect request reception process receives at least one unit effect among the effects specified by the acoustic processing device, The external effect processing applies the unit effect received in the request reception process to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit. External acoustic processing device.

[0016] Furthermore, in the external acoustic processing device according to the present invention, The unit effect received in the effect request reception process is a unit effect related to the delay component, The external effect processing reduces the delay amount of the unit effect related to the delay component and applies the unit effect.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the acoustic processing device and the external acoustic processing device of the present invention, even an acoustic processing device (amplifier or karaoke device) with low performance can apply effects with high load.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] Diagram showing the configuration of the karaoke system of this embodiment [Figure 2] Diagram showing an example of effect settings in this embodiment [Figure 3] Diagram showing an example of an effect setting screen in this embodiment [Figure 4] Flowchart showing the external amplifier cooperation process executed by the external amplifier in this embodiment [Figure 5] Flowchart showing the karaoke device cooperation process executed by the karaoke device in this embodiment [Figure 6] Flowchart showing the external amplifier independent process executed by the external amplifier in this embodiment [Figure 7] Flowchart showing the karaoke device independent process executed by the karaoke device in this embodiment

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the karaoke system of this embodiment. The karaoke system in this embodiment consists of a karaoke device 2 (sometimes called a commander), a remote control device 1, and an external amplifier 5. In this embodiment, the karaoke device 2 and the remote control device 1 are connected to a LAN 100 via wired or wireless communication, forming a network. The karaoke device 2 and the external amplifier 5 are connected via a cable, allowing them to exchange various information such as sound signals.

[0020] The karaoke device 2 is equipped with an audio control unit 25 that plays music (accompaniment). In this embodiment, the audio control unit 25 is connected to an external input terminal 25a to which various sound sources such as a microphone 43 can be connected, and to a speaker connection terminal 25b to which a speaker 42 as an external output can be connected. In the state shown in Figure 1, an external amplifier 5 is connected to the karaoke device 2, so the external input terminal 25a and speaker connection terminal 25b are empty.

[0021] The sound control unit 25 is capable of performing playback processing to reproduce the performance information contained in the music information. The sound control unit 25 is also capable of performing effect processing to apply various effects to sound signals input from the external input terminal 25a or the external amplifier 5, or to the performance sound reproduced by the sound control unit 25. Furthermore, it is possible to perform mixing processing to mix the performance sound produced by the playback processing with the sound signal input from the external input terminal with added effects, and output the result from the speaker connection terminal 25b. Note that in Figure 1, the speaker 42 is shown as a single unit for convenience, but it is possible to use multiple speakers 42, and employ various configurations such as stereo output or surround output.

[0022] The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment is configured by connecting various devices via interfaces 22a to 22d. Although Figure 1 shows the use of four interfaces 22a to 22d, the configuration of interfaces 22a to 22d can be varied, for example, by using only one interface or by providing one interface for each device.

[0023] The karaoke device 2 includes an operation unit 21 that receives various inputs from the user. The karaoke device 2 also includes a hard disk 32 as a storage unit for storing various information. The karaoke device 2 includes a LAN communication unit 24a as a means of communication for connecting to the LAN 100 and joining the network. Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 of this embodiment also includes a wireless LAN communication unit 24b, and it is possible to perform a wireless network connection using the wireless LAN communication unit 24b instead of a wired network connection using the LAN communication unit 24a.

[0024] Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 includes a video playback unit that displays lyrics and background images on the monitor 41. The video playback unit comprises a GPU 29 (Graphics Processing Unit) that forms images based on various information, a RAM 28 that stores the information necessary for image formation, and a video output unit 31 that outputs the played-back images to the monitor 41 and the touch panel monitor 33.

[0025] Furthermore, in addition to the externally connected monitor 41, this karaoke device 2 is also capable of displaying various information on a touch panel monitor 33. The touch panel monitor 33 consists of a display unit 35 that displays video input from the video output unit 31 and a touch panel 34 that outputs the touch input position to the interface 22b. The touch panel monitor 33 in this embodiment is located on the front of the housing of the karaoke device 2 and functions as an input unit that accepts various operations from the user. By selecting a song on the touch panel monitor 33, the user can directly reserve a song on the karaoke device 2 and perform various operations on the karaoke device 2.

[0026] Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 is configured with a control unit that includes a CPU 30 (Central Processing Unit) for overall control of each component and a memory 27 for temporarily storing information necessary for executing various programs. In addition, the interface 22d is provided with a connection terminal 25c for connecting to an external amplifier 5.

[0027] In this configuration, the karaoke device 2 performs various processes, but its main functions include song reservation processing and playback processing. Song reservation processing is the process of selecting and reserving a song based on the user's specifications, and is performed in cooperation with the remote control device 1. The reservation information formed by the song selection process of the remote control device 1 is sent to the karaoke device 2. The karaoke device 2 registers the received reservation information in the reservation table in memory 27. Playback processing is the process of playing the reserved song, and is a process in which the performance processing, lyrics display processing, and video playback processing are executed synchronously.

[0028] The performance processing is the process of causing the sound control unit 25 to perform a performance based on the performance data included in the song data. If the external amplifier 5 is not connected to the karaoke device 2, the external sound (microphone sound, etc.) input from the external input terminal 25a and the performance sound played by the sound control unit 25 are mixed and output to the speaker connection terminal 25b.

[0029] On the other hand, when an external amplifier 5 is connected to the karaoke machine 2, the sound played by the sound control unit 25 is transmitted to the external amplifier 5 via the connection terminal 25c. Furthermore, when an external amplifier 5 is connected to the karaoke machine 2, it is also possible to perform effect processing (referred to as "external effect processing") on the microphone sound input from the external amplifier 5, applying effects to it and returning it to the external amplifier 5. In this way, even effect processing that places a heavy load on the sound control unit 52 of the external amplifier 5 can be partially performed by the external effect processing of the karaoke machine 2, making it possible to implement effect processing.

[0030] Next, the external amplifier 5, which is connected to the karaoke machine 2, will be described. The external amplifier 5 is composed of an acoustic control unit 52, a wireless communication unit 53, an operation unit 54, an external input terminal 54a, a speaker connection terminal 52b, and a connection terminal 52c. The acoustic control unit 52 is capable of applying effects to the input sound received from the external input terminal 52a (corresponding to the "acquisition unit"), which is called "internal effect processing." The external amplifier 5 is also capable of mixing either the internally effect-processed input sound, or the input sound received from the external input terminal 52a, or both, with the performance sound played by the karaoke machine 2 and input to the connection terminal 52c, and outputting the result to the speaker connection terminal 52b.

[0031] The wireless communication unit 53 is a communication unit conforming to standards such as Bluetooth® and wireless LAN, and is capable of wirelessly connecting with external devices such as mobile terminals and receiving input sounds such as performance sounds played by the external devices. The external amplifier 5 can also be used independently without connecting to the karaoke machine 2, in which case it mixes the input sound input via the wireless communication unit 53 and the input sound input to the external input terminal 52a and outputs it from the speaker connection terminal 52b. At that time, the sound control unit 52 can also apply effects to at least one of the input sound input via the wireless communication unit 53 and the input sound input to the external input terminal 52a.

[0032] The external amplifier 5 is equipped with a control unit 54, making it possible to directly adjust effects or volume settings for the external amplifier 5.

[0033] Next, a remote control device 1 that communicates wirelessly with the karaoke machine 2 and operates the karaoke machine 2 will be described. The remote control device 1 is capable of performing song selection processing, which involves searching for songs based on instructions from the user and sending reservation information for the requested songs to the karaoke machine 2. The remote control device 1 is also capable of receiving various information from the karaoke machine 2 or a server device 6 connected to the internet and performing various processes. In this embodiment, the user interface that receives various instructions from the user is provided with an operation unit 17 and a touch panel monitor 11. The touch panel monitor 11 is configured to have a display unit 11a and a touch panel 11b, and displays various information on the display unit 11a and is capable of receiving touch input from the user.

[0034] Furthermore, the remote control device 1 is configured to include a memory 14 as a storage unit for storing a database, various programs, and various information generated in conjunction with program execution, which are necessary for the music selection process, and a remote control unit for comprehensively controlling these components. The remote control unit includes a CPU 15, a video control unit 13 that forms the image to be displayed on the touch panel monitor 11, a video RAM 12 that temporarily stores the video data of the image to be displayed, and an operation processing unit 18 that interprets input from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17 and transmits it to the CPU 15.

[0035] The remote control device 1 is connected to the network configured 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 machine 2. Various commands output from the remote control device 1 are received by the associated karaoke machine 2.

[0036] With this configuration of the remote control device 1, various inputs from the user are received from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17, and various information is provided through the display on the touch panel monitor 11, enabling various processes such as song selection, which sends reservation information to be output to the karaoke device 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the remote control device 1 can also set effects for the external amplifier 5. In this embodiment, it is possible to set effects for the external amplifier 5 both when the karaoke device 2 is connected to the external amplifier 5 and when the karaoke device is not connected to the external amplifier 5. The effect settings specified by the remote control device 1 are transmitted from the wireless LAN communication unit 16 and received by the wireless communication unit 53 of the external amplifier 5. Alternatively, when the karaoke device 2 is connected to the external amplifier 5, the effect settings specified by the remote control device 1 may be transmitted to the karaoke device 2 and then transmitted from the karaoke device 2 to the external amplifier 5 via connection terminals 25c and 52c.

[0038] In this embodiment, as explained in Figure 1, one objective is to achieve high-load effects when the external amplifier 5 is connected to the karaoke device 2. Normally, effect processing involves combining multiple unit effects to generate the desired effect sound. When executing multiple unit effects, the total load becomes large, and it may not be possible to execute them with the sound control unit 52 of the external amplifier 5. Furthermore, if the external amplifier 5 is given the capability to perform these operations, its price may increase.

[0039] In this embodiment, taking such circumstances into consideration, at least one of the effects (composed of multiple unit effects) specified for the external amplifier 5 is requested to be executed by the sound control unit 25 of the karaoke device 2, and the sound control unit 25 executes it, thereby enabling the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device to work together to achieve high-load effects.

[0040] Figure 2 shows an example of effect settings in this embodiment, and Figure 3 shows an example of the effect settings screen in this embodiment. The user can set the on / off status of the unit effects to be used using the effect settings screens shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B) displayed on the remote control device 1. In this embodiment, unit effects A to F and unit effects α to ε are available. Although the effect settings screen in Figure 3 is labeled with unit effects A to F and α to ε for convenience, in reality, the effects will be displayed with names that the user can understand.

[0041] Examples of unit effects A to F include, but are not limited to, bandpass, feedback cancellation, bass cut, enhancer, multiband compressor, limiter, microphone volume, and voice change. Unit effects α and β are relatively computationally intensive (high-load) effects, and in this embodiment, they are assigned to voice change, which alters the voice of the input singing voice. Unit effects γ and ε are delay-related unit effects (unit effects related to the delay component), and examples include echo and reverb.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2, each unit effect A to F and α to ε has a load level set. In this embodiment, the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5 is set to 40. If the total load of the set unit effects exceeds the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5, the external amplifier 5 alone will not be able to process the load. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the karaoke device 2 is connected to the external amplifier 5, an effect request process is executed to request the karaoke device 2 to process some of the unit effects (corresponding to the "first unit effect"), thereby expanding the processing capacity for effects.

[0043] Furthermore, when external amplifier 5 is used alone, that is, when no effect request is made, the unit effect with a high load (corresponding to the "second unit effect") will not be applied by not allowing its specification.

[0044] The effect settings screen shown in Figure 3(A) is the effect settings screen when the external amplifier 5 is used independently, that is, when it is not connected to the karaoke device 2. In the state shown in Figure 3(A), unit effects A to F are all ON, and unit effects α and γ are ON.

[0045] In this case, when the external amplifier 5 is used alone, the unit effects β and ε are in a state where their specification is not permitted (they cannot be turned ON). In this embodiment, the unit effects β and ε are displayed, but the checkboxes cannot be selected. The state of not being permitted is not limited to this form; various forms can be adopted, such as not displaying the unit effects β and ε at all. Thus, in this embodiment, when the external amplifier 5 is used alone, that is, when no effect request is made, the unit effect with a high load (corresponding to the "second unit effect") is not applied by not allowing its specification.

[0046] When the external amplifier 5 shown in Figure 2 is used alone, the load is as shown in the settings in Figure 3(A). The total load in the settings in Figure 3(A) is 40, which is equivalent to the processing capacity of the external amplifier. Thus, when the external amplifier 5 is used alone, it is possible to set the load so as not to exceed the processing capacity of the external amplifier.

[0047] On the other hand, the effect settings screen shown in Figure 3(B) is the settings screen during linked processing, and is the effect settings screen when the karaoke device 5 is connected to the external amplifier 5. As can be seen from Figure 3(B), it is possible to set the unit effects β and ε, which were not allowed to be set when using Figure 3(A) alone. In the setting example shown in Figure 3(B), unit effects A to F are all ON, and unit effects β and ε are ON. Figure 2 shows the load when the external amplifier 5 is linked, with the settings in Figure 3(B). The total load during linked processing is 50, which exceeds the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, by performing an effect request process that requests some unit effects (corresponding to the "first unit effect") to the karaoke device 2, the total load on the external amplifier 5 is kept below the processing capacity value (40 in the example in Figure 2). In this embodiment, by requesting the delay system unit effect ε to the karaoke device 2, the delay time that occurs between the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device 2 is made part of the delay system unit effect ε, making it possible to produce a natural effect sound from the sound output from the speaker connection terminal 52b.

[0049] Specifically, if the delay amount of the unit effect ε is t1 seconds, and the delay time between the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device 2 is t2, the delay amount of the unit effect applied by the sound control unit 25 is calculated as t1-t2, and the delay time t2 is reduced from the original delay amount of the unit effect ε, which is t1 seconds. In this way, it is possible to set the delay amount of the effect sound that is applied by the sound control unit ε in the karaoke device 2 and returned to the external amplifier 5 to an appropriate t1 seconds.

[0050] The delay time between the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device 2 may be set to a predetermined delay time, or it may be set to the delay time actually measured between the karaoke device 2 and the external amplifier 5.

[0051] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the external amplifier coordination process performed by the external amplifier 5 in this embodiment. In the external amplifier linkage process, the external amplifier 5 first checks whether or not it is connected to the karaoke device 2 (S101). The connection with the karaoke device 2 is made via connection terminals 52c and 25c, and the external amplifier 5 can determine the connection status with the karaoke device 2.

[0052] If the external amplifier 5 is not connected to the karaoke device 2 (S101: No), the external amplifier 5 performs independent processing (S150). On the other hand, if it is connected to the karaoke device 2 (S101: Yes), the external amplifier 5 performs effect setting acceptance (S102) (corresponding to "specified processing"). In this embodiment, it is possible to set unit effects for the external amplifier 5 using the effect setting screen described in Figure 3.

[0053] Next, the external amplifier 5 acquires the input sound input to the external input terminal 52a (S103). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a microphone 43 is connected, so microphone sound is acquired. Then, the external amplifier determines whether or not an effect request is made based on the set information (S104). In this embodiment, the total load of the set unit effects is calculated, and if it is greater than the processing capacity value of the external amplifier 5, it is determined that an effect request is made; if it is less than or equal to the processing capacity value of the external amplifier 5, it is determined that no effect request is made.

[0054] If it is determined that no effect is requested (S104: No), the external amplifier 5 applies the specified unit effect to the microphone sound of the sound control unit 52 and performs internal effect processing to form an internal effect sound (S105). Then, it receives the performance sound transmitted from the karaoke device 2 (S106), mixes it with the formed internal effect sound (S107), and outputs it as karaoke sound from the speaker connection terminal 52b.

[0055] On the other hand, if it is determined that an effect request is needed (S104: Yes), the external amplifier 5 executes an effect request process (S108) to request the karaoke device 2 to apply the unit effect ε from the specified unit effects. In the effect request process (S108), the external amplifier 5 executes an output process to send the microphone sound to the karaoke device 2, and a transmission process to send an instruction to apply the unit effect ε.

[0056] Then, the internal effect processing (S109) is performed in which the sound control unit 52 applies the unit effects (A~F, β) that are applied by the external amplifier 5 among the specified unit effects. In this way, the internal effect processing (S109) applies to the microphone sound the unit effects other than those requested by the external amplifier 5 in the effect request processing (S108) from among the effects received in S102.

[0057] Then, based on the effect request processing, the external effect sound (S110) transmitted from the karaoke device 2 is received, mixed with the internal effect sound to form a mixed sound (S111). Furthermore, the performance sound played by the karaoke device 2 is received (S112), mixed with the formed mixed sound (S107), and output as karaoke sound from the speaker connection terminal 52b.

[0058] Thus, in this embodiment, if the load of a set unit effect exceeds the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5, the load related to the effects is distributed by requesting the karaoke device 2 to handle some of the effects that make up the effect, making it possible to apply even high-load effects.

[0059] Next, we will explain the processing performed on the karaoke device 2 side. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the karaoke device cooperation processing performed on the karaoke device 2 in this embodiment. The karaoke device 2 determines whether or not the external amplifier 5 is connected (S201). If the external amplifier 5 is not connected to the karaoke device 2 (S201: No), the karaoke device 2 performs karaoke device-side independent processing (S250). The karaoke device-side independent processing (S250) will be described later.

[0060] On the other hand, if an external amplifier 5 is connected to the karaoke device 2 (S201: Yes), the karaoke device 2 performs music data playback processing and external processing. In music data playback processing, the sound control unit 25 plays the performance information contained in the music information corresponding to the specified song, forming the performance sound (S205). Also, if an effect is specified for the song, music effect processing is performed to apply the effect to the formed performance sound (S206). The effect-enhanced performance sound is then sent to the external amplifier 5 (S207).

[0061] In the external processing, an effect request acceptance process (S202) is executed in response to the effect request processing (S108) of the external amplifier 5. The effect request acceptance process (S202) is a process that receives the microphone sound transmitted in the effect request processing (S108) of the external amplifier 5 and an instruction to apply a unit effect (in this embodiment, a unit effect ε). Then, the karaoke device 2, in accordance with the information received in the effect request acceptance process (S202), performs external effect processing (S253) in the sound control unit 25, applying a unit effect ε to the received microphone sound to form an external effect sound. The formed external effect sound is transmitted to the external amplifier 5 (S204).

[0062] As described above, by performing the external amplifier linkage process explained in Figure 4 and the karaoke device linkage process explained in Figure 5, the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device 2 can work together to apply effects, even those with high processing loads.

[0063] Next, we will explain the individual processes in the situation where the external amplifier 5 and the karaoke device 2 are not connected. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the independent processing of the external amplifier 5 performed by the external amplifier 5 in this embodiment. The external amplifier 5 can also be used independently without being connected to the karaoke device 2. The independent processing of the external amplifier (S150) is the process performed by the external amplifier 5 when it is determined that the karaoke device 2 is not connected (S101: No) in the external amplifier linked processing described in Figure 4.

[0064] The external amplifier 5 of this embodiment is equipped with a wireless communication unit 53, and can use performance sounds played on an external device such as a mobile terminal as input sounds. In this case, the external amplifier 5 receives the performance sound from the wireless communication unit 53 (S154). Then, it performs effect processing on the received performance sound, applying effects specified by the operation unit 54, etc. (S155).

[0065] Furthermore, microphone sound is acquired from the microphone 43 connected to the external input terminal 52a (S151). Effect processing is also performed on the acquired microphone sound, applying the effects specified by the control unit 54, etc. (S152). Note that the content of the effect processing for the performance sound (S155) and the effect processing for the microphone sound (S152) may be the same or may be different.

[0066] The effected performance sound and the effected microphone sound are mixed (S153) and output as karaoke sound to the speaker 42 from the speaker connection terminal 52b (S156). In this way, the external amplifier 5 of this embodiment can perform karaoke using the performance sound received by the wireless communication unit 53 even when it is not connected to the karaoke device 2. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 53 is used as a means of acquiring the performance sound, but it is not limited to the wireless communication unit 53, and a terminal for wired connection may be provided and used to acquire the performance sound.

[0067] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the standalone processing performed by the karaoke device 2 of this embodiment. The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment can also be used independently without connecting to the external amplifier 5. The standalone processing of the karaoke device (S250) is the processing performed by the external amplifier 5 when it is determined that the external amplifier 5 is not connected (S201: No) in the karaoke device cooperation processing described in Figure 5.

[0068] When using the standalone karaoke device processing (S250), the device is used with a microphone 43 connected to the external input terminal 25a and a speaker 42 connected to the speaker connection terminal 25b, as shown in Figure 1. In the standalone karaoke device processing (S250), music data playback processing and microphone sound effect processing are performed. In the music data playback processing, the sound control unit 25 plays music data corresponding to the specified song (S254). In this embodiment, music effect processing is also performed to apply effects to the played song (S255).

[0069] Meanwhile, for microphone sound effect processing, microphone sound is acquired from the external input terminal 25a (S151), and effect processing (S152) is performed to apply effects to the acquired microphone sound. The effect-applied performance sound and microphone sound are mixed (S153) and output as karaoke sound from the speaker 42 connected to the speaker connection terminal 25b (S156).

[0070] As described above, the external amplifier 5 and karaoke device 2 of this embodiment can be used either connected together or individually. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted. Various modifications are described below.

[0071] [First variation] In the above-described embodiment, the case in which an external amplifier 5 is used as the sound processing device and a karaoke device 2 is used as the external sound processing device was explained as an example. That is, the external amplifier 5, as the sound processing device, performs an effect request process to request at least one unit effect from among the specified effects from the karaoke device 2, which is also an external sound processing device. Instead of this configuration, the karaoke device 2 may be used as the sound processing device and the external amplifier 5 as the external sound processing device.

[0072] [Second variation] In the embodiment described above, a specific unit effect (delay-type unit effect ε) was requested from the karaoke device 2. The unit effect requested from the karaoke device 2 is not limited to a delay-type effect, but may be any appropriate unit effect (for example, unit effects A to F, α to γ ​​in Figures 2 and 3).

[0073] [Third variation] In the embodiments described above, as explained in Figures 2 and 3, a configuration was described in which the user can select the unit effect to be used. However, in addition to this configuration, it is also possible to have a set of combinations of multiple unit effects pre-set and allow the user to select the combination setting. In that case, it is preferable that combination settings exceeding the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5 be selectable only when the karaoke device 2 is connected. If a combination setting exceeding the processing capacity of the external amplifier 5 is selected, some of the unit effects constituting the combination setting will be entrusted to the karaoke device 2.

[0074] In the embodiments described above, the external amplifier 5 (or karaoke device 2) was used as an example of an audio processing device. However, the present invention is not limited to the external amplifier 5 (or karaoke device 2) and can be applied to various information processing devices. Furthermore, a program for an information processing device that is executed in various information processing devices including the external amplifier 5 (or karaoke device 2) and realizes the functions of the present invention also falls within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1: Remote control device 27: Memory 2: Karaoke machine 28: RAM 5: External amplifier 30: CPU 6: Server device 31: Video output unit 11: Touchscreen monitor 32: Hard disk 11a: Display unit 33: Touch panel monitor 11b: Touch panel 34: Touch panel 12: Video RAM 35: Display Unit 13: Video control unit 40: Processing capacity value 14: Memory 41: Monitor 15:CPU 42:Speaker 16: Wireless LAN communication unit 43: Microphone 17: Operation Unit 52: Acoustic Control Unit 18: Operation processing unit 52a: External input terminal 21: Control panel 52b: Speaker connection terminal 22a~22d: Interface 52c: Connection terminal 24a: LAN Communication Department 53: Wireless Communication Department 24b: Wireless LAN communication section 54: Operation section 25: Acoustic control unit 54a: External input terminal 25a: External input terminal 120: Router 25b: Speaker connection terminal 130: Access point 25c: Connection terminal

Claims

1. The unit acquires microphone sound, It comprises a designated processing unit, an effect request processing unit, and a control unit that executes internal effect processing, The specified processing specifies the effect to be applied to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit. The effect is composed of multiple unit effects, The effect request process, when an external sound processing device is connected, requests at least one unit effect from the specified effects to the external sound processing device. The internal effects processing applies unit effects to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit, excluding the unit effects that were requested to be sent to the external sound processing unit in the effects request processing, from among the specified effects. Acoustic processing device.

2. The unit effect requested from the external sound processing unit during the effect request process is a unit effect related to the delay component. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The sound processing unit is an amplifier and the external sound processing unit is a karaoke machine, or the sound processing unit is a karaoke machine and the external sound processing unit is an amplifier. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The unit performs output processing to output the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit to an external sound processing device. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The system performs a mixing process that mixes the microphone audio, which has been processed with unit effects internally, with the microphone audio, which has been processed with unit effects externally, and outputs the result. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The effect request process, if the specified effect includes a first unit effect, requests the external sound processing device to perform that first unit effect. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The unit effect includes the second unit effect, Internal effect processing applies a second-unit effect to the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit when an effect request is made; if no effect request is made, the microphone sound acquired by the acquisition unit is not subjected to a second-unit effect. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The designation acceptance process will execute a designation acceptance process that allows the designation of a second unit effect if an external sound processing device is connected, and does not allow the designation of a second unit effect if an external sound processing device is not connected. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 7.

9. Each unit effect has a load assigned to it, and each sound processing unit has a processing capacity value assigned to it. The effect request process requests unit effects from an external sound processing device so that the total load of unit effects does not exceed the processing capacity. The acoustic apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The unit acquires microphone sound, It comprises an effect request acceptance process and a control unit that executes external effect processing, The effect request acceptance process accepts at least one unit effect from among the effects specified by the sound processing device. External effects processing applies the unit effects received in the effects request acceptance process to the microphone sound acquired in the acquisition unit. External sound processing device.

11. The unit effects accepted in the effect request acceptance process are unit effects related to the delay component. External effect processing reduces the delay amount of the unit effect related to the delay component and then applies the unit effect. The external sound processing device according to claim 10.

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