Signal generating device, electronic musical instrument, electronic keyboard device, electronic device, signal generating method and program

Abstract

A signal generation device according to one embodiment is provided with a generation unit and a sound generation control unit. The generation unit generates sound signals corresponding to operations on a plurality of operators. The plurality of operators include a first operator and a second operator. The sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode of a sound signal to be generated in response to a second operation on the second operator following a first operation on the first operator on the basis of the duration of the first operation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to techniques for generating sound signals. [Background technology]

[0002] The sound generation in an electronic keyboard instrument can be controlled in various ways. One of the sound generation controls is portamento processing. When normal sound generation processing is performed, when two different keys are operated in succession, sounds of pitches corresponding to the respective keys are generated in sequence. On the other hand, when portamento processing is performed, the sound generation is controlled so that the pitch changes smoothly between each sound generation. Technologies for changing the manner in which the pitch is changed smoothly have also been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-214899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, portamento processing can be switched on or off by operating an operation button or the like provided on an electronic keyboard instrument. However, it is difficult to perform such an operation while playing. In particular, when it is desired to stop portamento processing during a part of a performance using portamento processing (such as the middle of a phrase), controlling it with an operation button or the like makes the performance even more difficult.

[0005] One of the objectives of the present disclosure is to control portamento processing according to playing style. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment, a signal generating device is provided that includes a generating unit and a sound generating control unit. The generating unit generates sound signals in response to operations on a plurality of operators. The plurality of operators include a first operator and a second operator. The sound generating control unit controls a sound generating form of a sound signal generated in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation, based on a duration of the first operation on the first operator. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment, the portamento process can be controlled by playing style. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an electronic keyboard device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic keyboard device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a sound signal by portamento processing according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a pitch transition process according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pitch change according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pitch change according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An electronic keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings referred to in this embodiment, the same parts or parts having similar functions are given the same or similar symbols (symbols with A, B, etc. added after a number), and repeated explanations may be omitted. The dimensional ratios of the drawings may differ from the actual ratios for the convenience of explanation, and some components may be omitted from the drawings.

[0010] [1. Configuration of the electronic keyboard device] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of an electronic keyboard device according to an embodiment. The electronic keyboard device 1 is a synthesizer equipped with a keyboard section 80 including a plurality of keys rotatably supported on a housing 95. The keys are an example of controls that accept input of performance operations by a user. The electronic keyboard device 1 generates sound signals in response to key operations by the user or control by a sequencer. This sound signal may be given a preset sound effect. The process of giving the sound effect includes portamento processing.

[0011] In this example, the portamento process switches to a different sound generation mode when a specific performance technique (key pressing) is detected while controlling a sound generation mode by a general portamento. In this example, a trill is assumed as the specific performance technique. When a trill is detected, the sound generation mode is controlled so that the pitch transition in the portamento is performed in a short time. An electronic keyboard device 1 for realizing such sound generation mode control will be described.

[0012] 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an electronic keyboard device according to one embodiment. The electronic keyboard device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 18, an operation unit 20, a sound source unit 30, a display unit 50, a speaker 60, a signal output unit 65, a keyboard unit 80, a key depression detection unit 88, and an interface 90.

[0013] The storage unit 18 is a storage device such as a non-volatile memory, and includes an area for storing a control program executed by the control unit 10. The control program may be provided from an external device. When the control unit 10 executes the control program, various functions are realized in the electronic keyboard device 1.

[0014] The operation unit 20 includes operation devices such as knobs, sliders, touch sensors, and buttons, and receives instructions from a user to the electronic keyboard device 1. The operation unit 20 outputs an operation signal CS to the control unit 10 in accordance with the received user instructions.

[0015] The display unit 50 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays various screens under the control of the control unit 10. A touch panel may be configured by combining the display unit 50 with a touch sensor.

[0016] The speaker 60 amplifies and outputs the sound signal supplied from the sound source unit 30, thereby generating a sound corresponding to the sound signal.

[0017] The signal output unit 65 includes a terminal for outputting the sound signal supplied from the sound source unit 30 to an external device.

[0018] The key press detection unit 88 includes a sensor that outputs to the control unit 10 a detection signal KV corresponding to the pressed key and the amount of pressing of the key.

[0019] In this example, the interface 90 includes a terminal for connecting an external device such as a controller to the electronic keyboard device 1. The interface 90 may also include a terminal for transmitting and receiving MIDI data.

[0020] The control unit 10 is an example of a computer including an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU, and storage devices such as a RAM and a ROM. The control unit 10 uses the CPU to execute a control program stored in the storage unit 18, and realizes various functions in the electronic keyboard device 1 according to instructions written in the control program. For example, the control unit 10 generates a sound source control signal Ct based on the detection signal KV, and generates a setting signal St based on the operation signal CS.

[0021] The sound source control signal Ct includes information for controlling the generation of each sound, such as note number, note on, and note off, and is used to generate a sound signal in the sound source section 30. The setting signal St is used to set the values ​​of various parameters, such as sound effects, for generating a sound signal in the sound source section 30. The setting signal St includes information for setting the operation mode of the sound generation process to either a mode for performing portamento processing (described later) or a mode for performing normal processing, and information for setting parameters used in the portamento processing. Hereinafter, the mode for performing portamento processing may be referred to as a portamento performance mode. Hereinafter, the mode for performing normal processing may be referred to as a normal performance mode.

[0022] In this example, the normal performance mode is an operation mode in which sound is generated in a sound generation form that does not use portamento processing. That is, in the normal performance mode, a sound signal of a pitch corresponding to a key is generated each time the key is operated, but the sound generation form of portamento processing, in which the pitch gradually changes between sounds, is not adopted. In other words, the normal performance mode can be said to be an operation mode in which the control of the sound generation form by portamento processing is stopped.

[0023] In this example, the parameters used in the portamento process are a switching threshold Tth and the speed at which the pitch is changed in the portamento (low speed Ls, high speed Hs). The switching threshold Tth is a parameter used when detecting a trill as a performance technique. The low speed Ls is a parameter corresponding to the speed at which the pitch is changed in the portamento process. The high speed Hs is a parameter corresponding to the speed at which the pitch is changed in the portamento process when a trill is detected. The low speed Ls is smaller than the high speed Hs. The method of using these parameters will be described later.

[0024] The sound source unit 30 includes a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 300, a waveform storage unit 310, and a program storage unit 350, and is an example of a signal generating device for generating a sound signal. The waveform storage unit 310 stores waveform data for generating a sound signal. The program storage unit 350 stores a program executed in the DSP 300. This program may be provided from an external device.

[0025] The DSP 300 generates a sound signal based on the sound source control signal Ct and the setting signal St supplied from the control unit 10. The DSP 300 supplies the generated sound signal to the signal output unit 65, and may further supply it to the speaker 60. The DSP 300 executes a program stored in the program storage unit 350, and realizes various functions in the sound source unit 30 according to instructions written in the program. All or some of the functions in the sound source unit 30 may be realized by the control unit 10 executing the program.

[0026] [2. DSP Functions] The following describes the functions that the DSP 300 realizes in the sound source unit 30. When the DSP 300 executes a program, it realizes a signal generating unit (generating unit) 301 and a sound generation control unit 305 in the sound source unit 30. The signal generating unit 301 reads waveform data from the waveform storage unit 310 based on the sound source control signal Ct, and generates a sound signal based on the waveform data and various parameters set based on the setting signal St. The sound generation control unit 305 controls the method of generating a sound signal in the signal generating unit 301. In this example, when the normal performance mode and the portamento performance mode are switched based on the setting signal St, the sound generation control unit 305 controls the signal generating unit 301 to generate a sound signal in a sound generation form corresponding to each mode.

[0027] [3. Portamento processing flow] Next, a flow of processing executed by the sound source unit 30 when the operation mode is set to the portamento performance mode based on the setting signal St will be described. The flow described below continues until the portamento performance mode is released.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sound signal generating method by portamento processing in one embodiment. When the sound source unit 30 is set to the portamento performance mode, it sets the count value Tc for measuring the key pressing time to 0 (step S100). The sound source unit 30 waits until it detects a key press (step S200; No). When the sound source unit 30 detects a key press (step S200; Yes), it adds 1 to the count value Tc (step S210) and executes a sound generation process according to the key press (step S220). Specifically, it generates a sound signal with a pitch corresponding to the pressed key. The sound source unit 30 continues the processes of steps S210 and S220 while it does not detect either a key release or another key press for the pressed key (step S300; No, step S400; No). That is, the sound source unit 30 adds 1 to the count value Tc (step S210) and generates a sound signal to continue sound generation (step S220).

[0029] When the sound source unit 30 detects a key release (step S300; Yes), it ends the sound generation process (step S350) and returns to step S100 to continue the process. When the sound source unit 30 detects a key press before the key release (step S400; Yes), it executes a pitch shift process (step S500).

[0030] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the pitch shift process in one embodiment. When the sound source unit 30 starts the pitch shift process, it determines whether Tc is smaller than the switching threshold value Tth (step S510). The count value Tc increases while the key is being pressed, and therefore corresponds to the time that the key is being pressed. Therefore, in the following description, the count value Tc may be referred to as the duration Tc.

[0031] If the duration Tc is equal to or greater than the switching threshold Tth (step S510; No), the sound source unit 30 sets the pitch change speed Ps to a low speed Ls, and sets the duration Tc to 0 in order to measure the time the new key press continues (step S521). On the other hand, if the duration Tc is less than the switching threshold Tth (step S510; Yes), the sound source unit 30 sets the pitch change speed Ps to a high speed Hs, and sets the duration Tc to 0 in order to measure the time the new key press continues (step S523).

[0032] While the sound source unit 30 detects neither a key release nor another key press for the pressed key (step S600; No, step S700; No), it executes the process of steps S530 to 550 described below. If the sound source unit 30 detects another key press before the key release (step S700; Yes), it returns to step S510 and continues the process. If the sound source unit 30 detects a key release (step S600; Yes), it ends the sound generation process (FIG. 3, step S350) and returns to step S100 shown in FIG. 3 and continues the process.

[0033] The sound source unit 30 adds 1 to the count value Tc (step S530), and executes a process of adjusting the frequency of the sound signal toward the target pitch at a speed according to the pitch change speed Ps (step S540). The target pitch is the pitch corresponding to the key detected in step S400.

[0034] The sound source unit 30 continues the processing of steps S530 and S540 until the sound signal reaches the target pitch (step S550; No). That is, the sound source unit 30 adds 1 to the count value Tc (step S530) and executes a process of adjusting the frequency of the sound signal toward the target pitch at a speed according to the pitch change speed Ps (step S540). If the sound signal reaches the target pitch (step S550; Yes), the sound source unit 30 ends the pitch transition process and returns to step S210 shown in FIG. 3 to continue the process.

[0035] In this way, when another key depression is detected after the first key depression and before the key release, the pitch of the sound signal shifts toward the target pitch at a speed according to the pitch change speed Ps. As described above, the pitch change speed Ps is set to either the low speed Ls or the high speed Hs depending on the duration Tc. When the pitch change speed Ps is set to the low speed Ls, the sound source unit 30 generates a sound signal so that the pitch changes gradually, as in a sound production mode by general portamento processing. On the other hand, when the pitch change speed Ps is set to the high speed Hs, the sound source unit generates a sound signal so that the pitch changes suddenly, as in a sound production mode in which portamento processing is not actually performed. An example of pitch change by controlling such a sound production mode will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pitch change in one embodiment. When key operations K1 to K9 corresponding to key depressions are input, the pitch Pt of the sound signal changes according to the above-mentioned portamento processing. In the example of Fig. 5, K1 and K9 correspond to the C4 key, K2, K4, K6, and K8 correspond to the G4 key, K3 and K5 correspond to the F4 key, and K7 corresponds to the E4 key. For each key operation, the range from the key depression (Kon) timing to the key release (Koff) timing is shown as a band-like image.

[0037] When key operation K1 occurs, a sound signal is generated with a pitch of C4. When key operation K2 occurs before key operation K1 ends, the time from the key press timing of key operation K1 to the key press timing of key operation K2 is counted as duration Tc. Since the duration Tc is equal to or greater than the switching threshold Tth, the pitch change speed Ps is set to the low speed Ls. The pitch Pt starts to change from C4 to G4 at the low speed Ls from the key press timing of key operation K2. In the relationship between key operations K2 and K3, similar to the relationship between key operations K1 and K2, the pitch change speed Ps is also set to the low speed Ls. Therefore, the pitch Pt starts to change from G4 to F4 at the low speed Ls from the key press timing of key operation K3.

[0038] The duration Tc of the key operation K3, that is, the duration Tc from the key pressing timing of the key operation K3 to the key pressing timing of the key operation K4, is less than the switching threshold value Tth, so the high speed Hs is set as the pitch change speed Ps. The pitch Pt starts to change from F4 to G4 at the high speed Hs from the key pressing timing of the key operation K4. As described above, the high speed Hs may be set to a value larger than the low speed Ls, but in this example, the high speed Hs is set to a value much larger than the low speed Ls. Therefore, the pitch Pt changes to G4 almost simultaneously with the key pressing of the key operation K4. In other words, the transition time from F4 to G4 is almost 0. In FIG. 5, the part of the pitch Pt that changes at the high speed Hs is indicated by a broken line. The same is true for the pitch Ptb shown in FIG. 6.

[0039] The transition time may be 0 or the minimum controllable time. A transition time of 0 may correspond to the time when the control of the sound generation mode in the portamento performance mode is stopped. Specifically, it indicates that the same sound generation timing is reproduced when the transition time becomes 0 in the portamento performance mode and when the performance is performed in the normal performance mode.

[0040] The durations Tc of the key operations K4 to K7 are all less than the switching threshold Tth. Therefore, the pitch Pt switches in the order of G4, F4, G4, and E4 at a high speed Hs in response to the key press timings of the key operations K4, K5, K6, and K7. Since the duration Tc of the key operation K7 is equal to or greater than the switching threshold Tth, the pitch Pt starts to change from E4 to G4 at a low speed Ls from the key press timing of the key operation K8. The key press timing of the key operation K9 is after the key release timing of the key operation K8. Therefore, sound generation ends at the key release timing of the key operation K8, and a new sound signal is generated at the pitch of C4 at the key press timing of the key operation K9.

[0041] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of pitch change in one embodiment. In the example of Fig. 6, K11 and K21 correspond to the key of C4, K12 and K22 correspond to the key of C5, and K13 and K23 correspond to the key of A4. The relationship between the key operations K11 and K12 and the relationship between the key operations K21 and K22 results in a large change in pitch. Therefore, the target pitch does not reach within the duration Tc of the subsequent key operations K12 and K22.

[0042] When key operation K12 occurs after key operation K11, the pitch Pta starts to change from C4 to C5 at the slow speed Ls from the timing of key operation K12 being pressed. Because key operation K13 occurs before key operation K12 ends, the time from the timing of key operation K12 being pressed to the timing of key operation K13 being pressed is counted as duration Tc. Because the duration Tc for key operation K12 is equal to or greater than the switching threshold Tth, the slow speed Ls is set as the pitch change speed Ps. The pitch Pta starts to change to A4 at the slow speed Ls from the timing of key operation K13 being pressed, even before it reaches C5 (a pitch between C4 and C5).

[0043] When key operation K22 occurs after key operation K21, the pitch Ptb starts to change from C4 to C5 at the low speed Ls from the key pressing timing of key operation K22. Because key operation K23 occurs before key operation K22 ends, the time from the key pressing timing of key operation K22 to the key pressing timing of key operation K23 is counted as the duration Tc. Because the duration Tc for key operation K22 is less than the switching threshold Tth, the high speed Hs is set as the pitch change speed Ps. The pitch Ptb starts to change to A4 at the high speed Hs from the key pressing timing of key operation K13 even before it reaches C5 (a pitch between C4 and C5). As described above, since the high speed Ls is set to a value that is much larger than the low speed Ls, the pitch Ptb changes to A4 almost simultaneously with the key pressing of key operation K23.

[0044] The key operations K3 to K7 input after the key operations K1 and K2 are a performance in which the next key is pressed with a short key press. This type of performance technique corresponds to a trill. At this time, if the pitch Pt gradually changes as in normal portamento processing, the time for the pitch Pt to change is long, so the target pitch cannot be reached, or even if the target pitch is reached, the time for which the pitch is maintained is short. The inability to reach the target pitch corresponds to, for example, the pitch change during the key operations K12 and K22 in FIG. 6. The time for which the target pitch is reached but the pitch is maintained is short corresponds to, for example, the pitch change during the key operation K2 in FIG. 5. Therefore, the portamento processing cannot reproduce the image of the original sound with a performance technique such as a trill.

[0045] By controlling the pitch Pt as described above, the time required for changing the pitch Pt is almost eliminated while the trill performance technique is being used, so that the image of the original sound can be reproduced. Furthermore, the performer can increase the pitch change speed Ps simply by performing trills in the portamento performance mode. Therefore, the pitch change speed Ps can be changed by changing the performance method without performing a separate operation (for example, an operation on the operating unit 20) during performance.

[0046] <Modification> Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the embodiment of the present disclosure can be modified in various forms as follows. The above-described embodiment and the modified examples described below can also be applied in combination with each other.

[0047] (1) In the portamento performance mode, the manner in which the pitch changes is determined based on the speed at which the pitch changes (pitch change speed Ps), but it may also be determined based on the time it takes for the pitch to change (the time it takes to reach the target pitch, hereafter referred to as pitch change time). Instead of the pitch change speed Ps being set to either a low speed Ls or a high speed Hs, the pitch change time may be set to either a long speed or a short speed.

[0048] In both the pitch change speed and the pitch change time, the transition time when changing from a first pitch to a second pitch can be controlled by changing the set value. According to the above embodiment, the sound source unit 30 controls the transition time in the pitch change by varying the value of the pitch change speed Ps. According to the modification (1), the sound source unit 30 controls the transition time in the pitch change by varying the value of the pitch change time. When the transition time is controlled by the pitch change speed Ps, the transition time becomes longer as the amount of change in pitch increases. On the other hand, if the amount of change in pitch is the same, it can be said that the transition time is controlled by the value set for the pitch change speed Ps.

[0049] That is, if the pitch change speed Ps is set to a low speed Ls, the transition time will be long, and if the pitch change speed Ps is set to a high speed Hs, the transition time will be short. If the pitch change time is set to a long time, the transition time will be long, and if the pitch change time is set to a short time, the transition time will be short. In this way, the sound source unit 30 can control the transition time of the pitch change by the pitch change speed or the pitch change time.

[0050] (2) In the portamento performance mode, the manner in which the pitch changes does not have to be at a constant speed, but may be in a preset manner.

[0051] (3) In the portamento performance mode shown in Fig. 3, the sound source unit 30 may execute pitch shift processing without terminating sound production if it detects a key release before detecting another key press, or if it detects another key press within a predetermined time after detecting the key release. In this case, the duration Tc may be calculated in the same way as in the above-mentioned embodiment, or may be calculated to correspond to the time from key press to key release.

[0052] (4) The pitch change speed Ps may be set according to a predetermined formula derived from the duration Tc, instead of being set to either a low speed Ls or a high speed Hs depending on the duration Tc. For example, the speed may be set to be slower as the duration Tc becomes longer, i.e., the transition time may be longer.

[0053] (5) In addition to the condition that the duration Tc is less than the switching threshold Tth, another condition may be added as a condition for setting the pitch change speed Ps to the high speed Hs in the portamento performance mode. The other condition may be, for example, that the keys corresponding to two pitches are alternately operated. For example, the sound source unit 30 determines that the keys corresponding to the first pitch and the second pitch are alternately operated when the key corresponding to the first pitch is operated, the key corresponding to the second pitch is operated, and then the key corresponding to the first pitch is operated again. In this example, this corresponds to the case where the keys are alternately operated once. After that, when the key corresponding to the first pitch is further operated, this is deemed to be the case where the keys are alternately operated twice. The sound source unit 30 may determine that the additional condition is satisfied when the number of times the keys are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

[0054] (6) The sound source unit 30 may be applied not only to devices having keys as operators like the electronic keyboard device 1, but also to various electronic musical instruments using operators other than keys. The sound source unit 30 may be applied to, for example, electronic wind instruments, electronic string instruments, etc. The operators may be images displayed on a touch panel. In this case, for example, in an electronic device such as a terminal having a touch panel like a smartphone, a CPU (processor) may execute a program to realize a configuration for executing processing in the sound source unit 30. Furthermore, the electronic device may display images imitating operators such as keys on a touch panel as targets for performance operations.

[0055] The above is a description of the modified example.

[0056] As described above, according to one embodiment, a signal generating device is provided that includes a generating unit and a sound generating control unit. The generating unit generates sound signals in response to operations on a plurality of operators. The plurality of operators include a first operator and a second operator. The sound generating control unit controls the sound generating form of a sound signal generated in response to a second operation on a second operator following a first operation on the first operator, based on the duration of the first operation on the first operator. The signal generating device may further be configured as follows.

[0057] The sound production control unit may control the sound production mode so as to control a transition time during which the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the first operation changes to the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the second operation.

[0058] The sound production control unit may perform control such that the transition time is longer when the duration is a second duration that is longer than the first duration than when the duration is a first duration.

[0059] When the duration is shorter than a predetermined time, the sound production control unit may control the transition time to a time corresponding to a time when control of the sound production mode is stopped.

[0060] The sound production control unit may control the transition time to a time corresponding to a time when control of the sound production mode is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time and the number of times the first operator and the second operator are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

[0061] The sound production control unit may control the sound production mode so that, when the duration is the second duration, the transition time becomes longer as the difference between the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation becomes greater.

[0062] The sound production control unit may control the sound production mode by keeping constant the speed at which the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation changes to the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation, so that the transition time becomes longer as the difference between the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation becomes greater.

[0063] The sound production control unit may control the sound production mode so that, when the duration is the second duration, the transition time is constant regardless of the difference between the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the second operation.

[0064] In a case where the second operation is started before the first operation is ended, the duration may correspond to a time from the first operation to the second operation.

[0065] In a case where the second operation is started within a predetermined time after the first operation is ended, the duration may correspond to a time from the start to the end of the first operation.

[0066] According to one embodiment, there is provided an electronic musical instrument including the signal generating device and a plurality of operators including the first operator and the second operator.

[0067] According to one embodiment, there is provided an electronic keyboard device including the signal generating device and a plurality of keys including the first operator and the second operator.

[0068] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes the signal generating device and a touch panel controlled to display a plurality of images including a first image corresponding to the first operator and a second image corresponding to the second operator.

[0069] According to one embodiment, there is provided a signal generating device including a memory unit that stores a program and a processor that executes the program, the processor executing the program performing the following: A signal generating device is provided that generates a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator, and generates a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation, in a sound generation form based on the duration of the first operation.

[0070] According to one embodiment, a signal generating method is provided that includes generating a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator, and generating a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation, with a sound generation form based on the duration of the first operation.

[0071] Generating the second sound signal may include controlling the sound generation form to control a transition time of a change from a pitch of the first sound signal to a pitch of the second sound signal.

[0072] Generating the second sound signal may include controlling the transition time to be longer when the duration is a second duration that is longer than the first duration than when the duration is a first duration.

[0073] The generating of the second sound signal may include controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to a time when control of the sound production mode is stopped, if the duration is shorter than a predetermined time.

[0074] Generating the second sound signal may include controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to a time when control of the sound production mode is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time and the number of times the first operator and the second operator are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

[0075] According to one embodiment, a program is provided for causing a computer to generate a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator, and generate a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation, in a sound generation form based on the duration of the first operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...electronic keyboard device, 10...control section, 18...storage section, 20...operation section, 30...sound source section, 50...display section, 60...speaker, 65...signal output section, 80...keyboard section, 88...key press detection section, 90...interface, 95...casing, 300...DSP, 301...signal generation section, 305...sound generation control section, 310...waveform storage section, 350...program storage section

Claims

1. A generator that generates a sound signal in response to an operation on a plurality of operators including a first operator and a second operator; a sound generation control unit that controls a sound generation form of a sound signal generated in response to a second operation on a second operator following a first operation on a first operator, based on a duration of the first operation on the first operator; Including, the sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode so as to control a transition time during which a pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the first operation changes to a pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the second operation; A signal generating device, wherein the sound generation control unit controls the transition time to a time corresponding to a time when control of the sound generation mode is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time.

2. A generation unit that generates a sound signal in response to an operation on a plurality of operators including a first operator and a second operator; a sound generation control unit that controls a sound generation form of a sound signal generated in response to a second operation on a second operator following a first operation on a first operator, based on a duration of the first operation on the first operator; Including, the sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode so as to control a transition time during which a pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the first operation changes to a pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the second operation; The sound generation control unit controls the transition time to a time corresponding to when control of the sound generation form is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time and the number of times the first operator and the second operator are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

3. A signal generating device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pronunciation control unit controls the transition time to be longer when the duration is a second duration that is longer than the first duration than when the duration is a first duration.

4. 4. The signal generating device according to claim 3, wherein the sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode so that, when the duration is the second duration, the transition time becomes longer as the difference between the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation becomes greater.

5. 5. The signal generating device of claim 4, wherein the sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode by keeping constant a speed at which the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation changes to the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation, so that the transition time becomes longer as the difference between the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of the sound signal corresponding to the second operation becomes greater.

6. The signal generating device according to claim 3, wherein the sound generation control unit controls the sound generation mode so that the transition time is constant when the duration is the second duration, regardless of a difference between the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the first operation and the pitch of a sound signal corresponding to the second operation.

7. 7. The signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein, when the second operation is started before the first operation is ended, the duration corresponds to a time from the first operation to the second operation.

8. 8. The signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein, when the second operation is started within a predetermined time after the first operation is ended, the duration corresponds to a time from start to end of the first operation.

9. A signal generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A plurality of operators including the first operator and the second operator; Electronic musical instruments, including

10. A signal generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A plurality of keys including the first operator and the second operator; An electronic keyboard device comprising:

11. A signal generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, a touch panel that is controlled to display a plurality of images including a first image corresponding to the first operator and a second image corresponding to the second operator; Electronic equipment, including

12. A storage unit that stores a program; A processor for executing the program; A signal generating device comprising: When the processor executes the program, generating a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator; generating a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation in a sound generation form based on a duration of the first operation; generating the second sound signal includes controlling the sound generation form to control a transition time of a change from a pitch of the first sound signal to a pitch of the second sound signal; A signal generating device, wherein generating the second sound signal includes controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to when control of the sound production mode is stopped if the duration is shorter than a predetermined time.

13. A memory unit for storing a program; A processor for executing the program; A signal generating device comprising: When the processor executes the program, generating a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator; generating a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation in a sound generation form based on a duration of the first operation; generating the second sound signal includes controlling the sound generation form to control a transition time of a change from a pitch of the first sound signal to a pitch of the second sound signal; A signal generating device in which generating the second sound signal includes controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to when control of the sound production mode is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time and the number of times the first operator and the second operator are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

14. Generating a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator; generating a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation in a sound generation form based on a duration of the first operation; Including, generating the second sound signal includes controlling the sound generation form to control a transition time of a change from a pitch of the first sound signal to a pitch of the second sound signal; A signal generating method in which generating the second sound signal includes controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to when control of the sound production mode is stopped if the duration is shorter than a predetermined time.

15. Generating a first sound signal in response to a first operation on a first operator; generating a second sound signal in response to a second operation on a second operator following the first operation in a sound generation form based on a duration of the first operation; Including, generating the second sound signal includes controlling the sound generation form to control a transition time of a change from a pitch of the first sound signal to a pitch of the second sound signal; A signal generating method in which generating the second sound signal includes controlling the transition time to a time corresponding to when control of the sound production mode is stopped when the duration is shorter than a predetermined time and the number of times the first operator and the second operator are alternately operated reaches a predetermined number.

16. A signal generating method as described in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein generating the second sound signal includes controlling the transition time to be longer when the duration is a second duration that is longer than the first duration than when the duration is a first duration.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute the signal generating method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

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