Karaoke equipment

Abstract

To evaluate narration by a user by including connection of a music piece to be performed from now and a music piece performed immediately before.SOLUTION: A Karaoke device 1 includes: a detection part 20 for detecting voice as narration voice when voice is inputted from a user before a start of performance of a music piece; a specification part 21 for performing voice recognition processing on the narration voice and specifying a specific word included in the narration voice when the narration voice is detected; an evaluation part 22 for evaluating the narration voice on the basis of the specified specific word and a comparison result of a current music word related to a current music piece which is to start performing from now and a previous music word related to the previous music performed immediately before the current music piece; and a display part 23 for displaying an evaluation result of the narration voice by the evaluation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In a scene where a karaoke device is used, a narrator or the like utters a narration before the karaoke performance or singing of a reserved song, creating a sense of realism like a singing show or live performance, and encouraging the singer to sing.

[0003] For example, according to Patent Document 1, the host system reads requested song data from a song data storage device, analyzes the performance content based on general-purpose parameters added to the song data, selects the most suitable narration data from a narration data storage device based on the analysis results, and sends it to a narration playback device for playback. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-167388 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Meanwhile, in situations where karaoke machines are used, the singer or the surrounding audience may provide narration before playing or singing a song. The better the narration, the more realistic the singer and audience can feel, as in a singing show or live performance, and the melody of the song and the emotion of the lyrics can be conveyed in advance, so that the atmosphere of the venue can be enlivened even before singing begins. In this case, if the narration provided by the singer or the audience is highly evaluated, the atmosphere of the venue can be further enlivened, but the conventional technology does not allow evaluation of the narration.

[0006] In addition, in the conventional technology, narration related to the music to be played can be automatically played using recorded voice or voice synthesis, but the narration is selected without considering the connection with the music played immediately before, so the narration played may not fit the venue. In contrast, when the singer or the audience narrates, the narration can be performed with consideration of the connection between the music played immediately before and the music to be played, which can further liven up the atmosphere of the venue, and if such narration is evaluated, the atmosphere of the venue can be further livened up.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke device that can evaluate a narration by a user, including the connection between a piece of music to be played and a piece of music that has just been played. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the karaoke device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a detection unit that detects voice as narration voice when voice is input by a user before a song begins to be played, an identification unit that, when the narration voice is detected, performs voice recognition processing on the narration voice to identify specific words contained in the narration voice, an evaluation unit that evaluates the narration voice based on a comparison result between the identified specific words and current song words related to the current song that is about to be played and previous song words related to the previous song that was played immediately before the current song, and a display unit that displays the evaluation result of the narration voice by the evaluation unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the narration by the user can be evaluated taking into account the connection between the music piece to be played and the music piece played immediately before. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1 is a block diagram showing a karaoke device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 5 is a flowchart showing a narration evaluation operation of the karaoke apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a karaoke device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a karaoke device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 13 is a sound effect table in which reproduced words correspond to sound effects in the karaoke device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [First embodiment] The karaoke device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0012] [Karaoke equipment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a karaoke device 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the karaoke device 1 includes a karaoke main unit 2, a microphone 3, a speaker 4, a display device 5 such as a monitor, and a remote control device 6. The karaoke device 1 is installed in an installation location such as a karaoke room.

[0013] The karaoke main unit 2 is connected by wire or wirelessly to a microphone 3, a speaker 4, a display device 5, and a remote control device 6. The microphone 3 converts the user's singing voice and narration voice into audio signals and inputs them to the karaoke main unit 2. The speaker 4 emits the user's voice and the karaoke performance of a song based on the sound emission signal from the karaoke main unit 2. The display device 5 displays various screens based on the video signal etc. from the karaoke main unit 2, and for example displays lyrics captions together with background images in time with the karaoke performance.

[0014] The remote control device 6 is mainly composed of a touch panel. The remote control device 6 displays various screens and various operation buttons on the touch panel, and also accepts login operations and song selection (reservation) operations via the touch panel. The remote control device 6 and the karaoke main unit 2 are paired via wireless communication, allowing various information to be transmitted and received between the remote control device 6 and the karaoke main unit 2.

[0015] The remote control device 6 transmits user identification information (user ID) and the like input in response to the user's login operation to the karaoke main unit 2. The remote control device 6 accepts song searches and song selections (reservations), and transmits song identifiers (song IDs) of the songs selected (reserved) in response to the user's song selection (reservation) operation to the karaoke main unit 2 as reserved song information.

[0016] The karaoke unit 2 has a function of performing karaoke of selected (reserved) songs, as well as a function of evaluating narration uttered by singers and audience members.

[0017] The karaoke main unit 2 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a sound source 12, and an audio input / output unit 13. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and controls the karaoke main unit 2. The storage unit 11 includes storage media such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and stores programs and data for controlling each unit and function of the karaoke device 1.

[0018] For example, the storage unit 11 stores the user ID of each user of the karaoke device 1 to identify each user. The storage unit 11 also stores basic information such as the song ID, song title, singer name, genre, etc. for each song that the karaoke device 1 can perform as karaoke. The storage unit 11 also stores song data for each song, which includes accompaniment data, reference data, and lyric data. The accompaniment data is data in MIDI format that serves as the source of accompaniment sounds for karaoke performance. The reference data is data used as a standard for evaluating a singer's karaoke singing. The lyric data is data that serves as the source of lyric captions displayed on the display device 5.

[0019] Furthermore, the storage unit 11 stores, in association with the music data of each piece of music, music style words expressing the music style of that piece of music.

[0020] For example, if the melody of a piece of music contains many major key melodies and chords, many high notes, or a familiar scale, melody words such as "cheerful," "lively," and "fun" are stored in storage unit 11 in association with the music data. If the melody of a piece of music contains many minor key melodies and chords, many low notes, or a mysterious scale, melody words such as "dark," "lonely," and "painful" are stored in storage unit 11 in association with the music data.

[0021] Furthermore, when the melody of a piece of music has a fast tempo or uses many sounds, melody words such as "hurried" or "intense" are stored in the storage unit 11 in association with the music data. When the melody of a piece of music has a slow tempo or uses few sounds, melody words such as "peaceful" or "gentle" are stored in the storage unit 11 in association with the music data.

[0022] The sound source 12 is, for example, a MIDI sound source, and serves as karaoke performance means for generating accompaniment sound signals for karaoke performance based on accompaniment data of music piece data.

[0023] The audio input / output unit 13 is composed of a mixer (digital mixer), an amplifier, etc., and mixes the accompaniment sound signal for karaoke performance, the singing voice signal for karaoke singing, and the narration voice signal, and amplifies this mixed signal so that it can be emitted from the speaker 4. The volume level of the mixed audio signal reflects the music volume setting made by the user.

[0024] The control unit 10 controls each unit and each function of the karaoke device 1 by executing calculations based on the programs and data stored in the storage unit 11. For example, the control unit 10 of this embodiment operates as a detection unit 20, a specification unit 21, an evaluation unit 22, and a display unit 23 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 11.

[0025] The detection unit 20 is configured to detect, when a voice is input from a singer or an audience member via the microphone 3 before the karaoke device 1 starts performing a karaoke performance of a specified song, the voice as a narration voice.

[0026] At this time, the detection unit 20 sets a predetermined detection time from the end of the previous song to the start of the current song, assuming that the song to be karaoke-played is the current song and the song played just before the current song, i.e., the song reserved before the current song, is the previous song. Then, when the detection unit 20 detects a voice input through the microphone 3 during the detection time, it starts to detect the narration voice from that point.

[0027] Furthermore, the detection unit 20 ends the detection of the narration voice when a predetermined end condition is met. For example, the end condition may be when a play button provided on the karaoke main unit 2 or the remote control device 6 is pressed, when a predetermined performance start word such as "Now, please listen" is detected from the narration voice, when a predetermined time limit has elapsed since the start of detection of the narration voice, etc. When the detection unit 20 ends detection of the narration voice, it temporarily stores the detected narration voice in the storage unit 11 in association with the current song.

[0028] Specifically, when songs A and B are reserved in that order, the karaoke device 1 waits for the performance of song B for a preset detection time (e.g., 10 seconds) after the performance of song A (the previous song) ends and before the performance of song B (the current song) (the next reserved song) starts. If a voice is input to the karaoke device 1 through the microphone 3 during this detection time, the detection unit 20 detects the narration voice. If a voice is not input to the karaoke device 1 through the microphone 3 and the detection time has elapsed without the detection unit 20 detecting the narration voice, the karaoke device 1 starts the performance of song B.

[0029] When the detection unit 20 starts detecting the narration voice, the detection unit 20 may display a notification screen on the display device 5 or the remote control device 6 to notify the user that the narration voice has been detected. Even when a voice is input via the microphone 3, the detection unit 20 may not detect the narration voice if the voice is not appropriate as a narration voice, for example, if the voice is very short or very quiet. Furthermore, the detection unit 20 may not detect the narration voice if the current song is the first reserved song after the start of use of the karaoke device 1, or if a predetermined time has passed between songs since the end of the previous song when the performance of the current song begins.

[0030] The identification unit 21 is configured, when a narration voice is detected by the detection unit 20, to perform a voice recognition process on the narration voice and identify specific words contained in the narration voice.

[0031] The identification unit 21 may employ a known voice recognition method to perform voice recognition processing on the narration voice, and extracts words constituting the narration voice based on the voice recognition result. The identification unit 21 then identifies specific words such as "lovely" and "sad" from the words extracted from the narration voice. The identification unit 21 temporarily stores the specific words identified from the narration voice in the storage unit 11 in association with the current song related to the narration voice.

[0032] The evaluation unit 22 is configured to evaluate the specific word based on the previous song and the current song that are karaoke-played before and after the narration voice when the specific word is identified from the narration voice by the identification unit 21. At this time, the evaluation unit 22 evaluates the narration voice based on a comparison result between the specific word identified from the narration voice and the current song word related to the current song that is about to be played and the previous song word related to the previous song that was played immediately before the current song.

[0033] The evaluation unit 22 compares whether each specific word included in the narration voice matches each previous music word related to the previous music song, and counts the number of matches (the previous number of matches), and also compares whether each specific word included in the narration voice matches each current music word related to the current music song, and counts the number of matches (the current number of matches).The evaluation unit 22 then evaluates the narration voice based on the previous number of matches and the current number of matches.

[0034] Specifically, a case will be described in which a narration voice including the words "dear" and "sad" is input to the karaoke device 1 between the performance of a song A (previous song) including the words "dear" and "sad" in its lyrics data and the performance of a song B (current song) including the word "dear" in its lyrics data. In this case, the identification unit 21 identifies the specific words "dear" and "sad" from the narration voice. The evaluation unit 22 extracts the previous song words "dear" and "sad" from song A, which is the previous song, compares the specific words of the narration voice with the previous song words of song A, and counts the number of previous matches as 2. The evaluation unit 22 extracts the current song word "dear" from song B, which is the current song, compares the specific words of the narration voice with the current song words of song B, and counts the number of current matches as 1.

[0035] The evaluation unit 22 may use at least one of words included in the lyrics data of the previous song and music style words expressing the music style of the previous song as the previous song words, and may use at least one of words included in the lyrics data of the current song and music style words expressing the music style of the current song as the current song words. Note that, when the words extracted from the previous song or the current song are in conjugated forms with changed endings such as "lovely", "adorable", "sad", "sadness", etc., the evaluation unit 22 may convert them to the words before the change and evaluate them.

[0036] In addition, when the detection of the narration voice ends when the specified termination conditions described in the detection unit 20 are satisfied, the evaluation unit 22 uses the specific words identified by the identification unit 21 from the narration voice up to the termination point to count the previous number of matches between the specific words and the previous music words and the current number of matches between the specific words and the current music words, and evaluates the narration voice based on the ratio of the previous number of matches to the current number of matches.

[0037] Specifically, when evaluating the narration voice for the previous song and the current song, the evaluation unit 22 calculates the scores (narration scores) of the narration voice for the previous song and the current song by multiplying each of the previous match number and the current match number by 5. At this time, the previous match number and the current match number to be multiplied are limited to a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 10).

[0038] For example, if the previous number of matches for song A, the previous song, is 12, and the current number of matches for song B, the current song, is 10, the evaluation unit 22 converts the previous number of matches to the upper limit of 10 and multiplies it by 5 to calculate a score for the previous song as 50 points, and multiplies the current number of matches by 5 to calculate a score for the current song as 50 points, adding these together to calculate a narration score of 100 points.

[0039] Alternatively, if the previous number of matches for song A, the previous song, is 8 and the current number of matches for song B, the current song, is 7, the evaluation unit 22 multiplies the previous number of matches by 5 to calculate a score for the previous song of 40 points, and multiplies the current number of matches by 5 to calculate a score for the current song of 35 points, totaling these to calculate a narration score of 75 points.

[0040] The display unit 23 is configured to display the evaluation results of the narration audio by the evaluation unit 22 on the display device 5 or remote control device 6, for example, to display an evaluation screen presenting the evaluation results, and at this time, the evaluation screen may be displayed as a pop-up.

[0041] For example, the display unit 23 may display the evaluation result of the narration voice during the karaoke performance of the current song, or after the karaoke performance of the current song is completed. The display unit 23 may display the evaluation result of the narration voice for a predetermined display time, or until a predetermined operation is performed. If the detection unit 20 does not detect the narration voice, the display unit 23 does not display the evaluation result of the narration voice.

[0042] The display unit 23 may display the narration score calculated by the evaluation unit 22 as the evaluation result. Note that the display unit 23 may display the previous number of matches between the specific words and the previous music word as the evaluation result for evaluating the narration voice with respect to the previous music, and may display the current number of matches between the specific words and the current music word as the evaluation result for evaluating the narration voice with respect to the current music.

[0043] Specifically, if the previous number of matches for song A, which is the previous song, is 6 and the current number of matches for song B, which is the current song, is 10, the display unit 23 will display 80 points as the narration score, which is calculated by the evaluation unit 22 multiplying the previous number of matches and the current number of matches by 5 and adding them together.

[0044] [Narration evaluation operation of the first embodiment] Next, a narration evaluation operation of the karaoke device 1 when a singer or an audience member performs a narration in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the narration evaluation operation of the karaoke device 1 in the first embodiment.

[0045] First, when a user operates the remote control device 6 to reserve songs A and B (step S1), the control unit 10 of the karaoke main unit 2 registers the reserved song information of songs A and B received from the remote control device 6 in that order in the reservation management table of the storage unit 11. The control unit 10 reads the reserved song information from the reservation management table in the order of registration, and reads from the storage unit 11 the song data etc. corresponding to the song ID of this reserved song information.

[0046] The karaoke main unit 2 starts the karaoke performance of the previously reserved song A (step S2), reads out the song data of song A from the storage unit 11, performs the karaoke performance of song A using the sound source 12 and the audio input / output unit 13, and emits the accompaniment sound of song A from the speaker 4. At this time, when the singer sings along with the karaoke performance, the singing voice is emitted from the speaker 4 together with the accompaniment sound of song A.

[0047] When the karaoke unit 2 finishes the karaoke performance of the piece A (step S3), it waits for the input of the narration voice for a predetermined detection time (e.g., 10 seconds) before starting the karaoke performance of the next reserved piece B. If the detection unit 20 does not detect the narration voice input via the microphone 3 (step S4: NO) and the detection time elapses (step S5: YES), the karaoke unit 2 starts the karaoke performance of the next reserved piece B (step S6).

[0048] On the other hand, if the detection unit 20 detects the voice input through the microphone 3 as narration voice during the detection time (step S4: Yes), the identification unit 21 performs voice recognition processing on the narration voice to identify specific words contained in the narration voice (step S7).

[0049] Next, the evaluation unit 22 evaluates the narration voice based on the comparison result between the specific words identified from the narration voice and current song words related to song B, the current song that is about to be played, and previous song words related to song A, the previous song that was played immediately before song B (step S8).

[0050] Then, the display unit 23 displays the evaluation result of the narration voice by the evaluation unit 22 on the display device 5 or the remote control device 6 (step S9).

[0051] As described above, the karaoke device 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a detection unit 20 that detects voice as narration voice when voice is input by a user before a song starts to be played, an identification unit 21 that, when narration voice is detected, performs voice recognition processing on the narration voice to identify specific words contained in the narration voice, an evaluation unit 22 that evaluates the narration voice based on a comparison result between the identified specific words and current song words related to the current song that is about to be played and previous song words related to the previous song that was played immediately before the current song, and a display unit 23 that displays the evaluation result of the narration voice by the evaluation unit 22.

[0052] Thus, in a scene where the karaoke device 1 is used, the narration by the user performed during the karaoke performance can be evaluated including the connection between the current song to be performed and the previous song performed immediately before, thereby livening up the atmosphere of the place.

[0053] Furthermore, in the karaoke device 1 of the first embodiment, the evaluation unit 22 evaluates the narration voice based on the current number of matches between the specific word and the current music word and the previous number of matches between the specific word and the previous music word.

[0054] This allows the narration voice to be evaluated based on the degree to which the narration voice contains previous song words related to the previous song that was just played and current song words related to the current song that is about to be played. For example, by using the current match number and previous match number, it is possible to determine whether the content of the narration voice is biased toward the previous song or the current song, and a narration voice that is not biased toward the previous song or the current song can be highly evaluated as a narration that takes into account the connection of the songs. In this way, the connection between the previous song and the current song before and after the narration can be effectively evaluated.

[0055] Furthermore, in the karaoke device 1 of the first embodiment, the evaluation unit 22 uses, as the current song words, words contained in the lyric data of the current song and / or melody words expressing the melody of the current song, and uses, as the previous song words, words contained in the lyric data of the previous song and / or melody words expressing the melody of the previous song.

[0056] This makes it possible to effectively evaluate whether the contents of the narration voice are related to the previous song or the current song.

[0057] In the above first embodiment, an example has been described in which the memory unit 11 stores melody words that express the melody of a song in association with the song data of each song, and the evaluation unit 22 compares specific words identified from the narration voice with the melody words of the previous song and the melody words of the current song stored in the memory unit 11, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

[0058] For example, in another example, the memory unit 11 may store a table that associates a predetermined tempo range of a song with a musical style word, instead of a musical style word that expresses the musical style of the song associated with the music data of each song. For example, this table associates a tempo of 150 to 180 with the musical style words "running fast" and "speed."

[0059] In another example, the storage unit 11 may store a table that associates the ratio of minor chords to major chords in a song with melody words corresponding to that ratio. For example, this table associates minor chords:major chords=2:8 with the melody words "fun" and "refreshing."

[0060] Then, the evaluation unit 22 acquires the tempo and chord structure from the music data of the previous music piece and the current music piece, refers to the above-mentioned table based on the acquired tempo and chord structure, acquires melody words of the previous music piece and the current music piece, and compares them with the specific words.

[0061] In the above first embodiment, an example has been described in which the detection unit 20 detects the voice input through the microphone 3 as narration voice before the karaoke performance of the current song starts, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, in another example, the detection unit 20 may detect the voice input through the microphone 3 as narration voice during the introductory section after the karaoke performance of the current song starts.

[0062] In the above first embodiment, an example has been described in which the evaluation unit 22 calculates the narration scores for the previous song and the current song by multiplying the previous match count and the current match count by a certain coefficient (e.g., 5), respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, in addition to the above example, when a specific word is commonly included in the previous song words and the current song words, the evaluation unit 22 may highly evaluate such common words to evaluate the narration voice, and may calculate a score for the common words using a coefficient higher than a normal coefficient to calculate the narration score.

[0063] [Second embodiment] A karaoke device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the karaoke device 1 according to the second embodiment. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] The karaoke device 1 of the second embodiment is configured to record narration audio input for a song to be karaoke performed, and present it to the user as narration so that it can be played when the song is reserved, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0065] In the second embodiment, the control unit 10, similar to the first embodiment, operates as a detection unit 20, an identification unit 21, an evaluation unit 22 and a display unit 23 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 11, and further operates as a recording unit 30, a judgment unit 31, a registration unit 32 and a presentation unit 33.

[0066] When the detection unit 20 detects a narration voice, the recording unit 30 records the narration voice as narration data and temporarily stores it in the storage unit 11. Specifically, after the karaoke performance of the previous song A is finished, the karaoke main unit 2 stops the karaoke performance of the current song B for a predetermined detection time before starting the karaoke performance of the current song B, and during this detection time, if a voice is input from the user via the microphone 3 and the detection unit 20 detects this voice as a narration voice, the recording unit 30 starts recording the narration data. Also, when the detection of the narration voice is finished when the predetermined end condition explained in the detection unit 20 is satisfied, the recording unit 30 ends recording of the narration data.

[0067] The determination unit 31 determines whether or not to register the narration data recorded by the recording unit 30 based on the evaluation result of the narration voice by the evaluation unit 22. Specifically, when the narration score resulting from the evaluation of the narration voice by the evaluation unit 22 is a predetermined registration score (e.g., 80 points) or more, the determination unit 31 determines to register the narration data of the narration voice. On the other hand, when the narration score is less than the predetermined registration score, the determination unit 31 determines not to register the narration data of the narration voice and deletes the narration data temporarily stored in the storage unit 11.

[0068] The registration unit 32 registers the narration data of the narration voice determined by the determination unit 31 to be registered in the storage unit 11 in association with a combination of a current song identifier, which is a song identifier identifying the current song to be karaoke-played after the narration voice, and a previous song identifier identifying the previous song that was karaoke-played before the narration voice. The karaoke main unit 2 may be connected to an external server device via a network such as the Internet or a LAN so as to be able to communicate with the server device, and the registration unit 32 may transmit the combination of the previous song identifier and the current song identifier in association with the narration data to the server device and register it in the server device.

[0069] Specifically, if the previous song identifier of song A, which is the previous song, is "ID****A1" and the current song identifier of song B, which is the current song, is "ID****B1", the registration unit 32 associates the combination of these two song identifiers, "ID****A1" and "ID****B1", with the narration data recorded by the recording unit 30 and registers them in the storage unit 11. At this time, the narration score evaluated by the evaluation unit 22 for the narration voice corresponding to the narration data may also be registered in association with the narration data.

[0070] When past narration data associated with a specific combination of a previous song identifier and a current song identifier has already been registered in the storage unit 11, a previous song and a current song corresponding to this combination may be newly reserved, and a narration voice may be newly input to the karaoke main unit 2 and recorded by the recording unit 30 before the karaoke performance of the current song. In this case, when the determination unit 31 determines that narration data of a new narration voice should be registered, if the narration score of the new narration voice is equal to or higher than the narration score of the past narration voice already registered, the registration unit 32 maintains the registration of the past narration data without registering the new narration data.

[0071] On the other hand, if the narration score of the new narration voice is less than the narration score of the past narration voice that has already been registered, the registration unit 32 registers the new narration data in place of the past narration data.

[0072] The registration unit 32 may display a selection screen on the display device 5 or the remote control device 6 to allow the user to select whether or not to register new narration data.

[0073] If a combination of a current music piece identifier and a previous music piece identifier corresponding to the current music piece is associated with narration data and registered in the storage unit 11 by the registration unit 32 before the karaoke performance of the current music piece is started, the presentation unit 33 presents the narration data corresponding to the combination to the user in a reproducible manner.

[0074] Specifically, a case will be described in which narration data associated with a combination of the song identifier "ID****A1" of song A and the song identifier "ID****B1" of song B has already been registered in the storage unit 11. In this case, when songs A and B are reserved in the karaoke main unit 2 in this order and registered in the reservation management table of the storage unit 11, after the karaoke performance of song A, which is the previous song, is completed, the presentation unit 33 searches whether or not the combination of the song identifiers of song A and song B is registered in the storage unit 11. If the combination of song A and song B is registered, the presentation unit 33 presents the narration data corresponding to this combination in a playable manner.

[0075] At this time, the presentation unit 33 presents the narration data in a reproducible manner by displaying on the display unit 5 or the remote control unit 6 a narration presentation screen presenting a message such as "Narration data related to songs A and B can be played. To play them, please operate the karaoke device or the remote control device." The presentation unit 33 also accepts an instruction to play the narration on the narration presentation screen, and for example, displays a "play narration" button on the narration presentation screen in an operable manner. When the "play narration" button is pressed, the presentation unit 33 reads out the narration data corresponding to the combination of songs A and B from the storage unit 11 and plays it using the audio input / output unit 13 and the speaker 4 before starting the karaoke performance of the current song B, thereby playing back the narration data.

[0076] Alternatively, when song A and song B are reserved in the karaoke main unit 2 in that order, the presentation unit 33 may allow the user to select whether or not to play the narration data already registered between songs A and B when reserving song B.

[0077] After playing the narration data, the karaoke main unit 2 starts the karaoke performance of the current song, song B. The presentation unit 33 may display the narration presentation screen for a predetermined presentation time after the performance of the previous song ends and before the performance of the current song starts, and if there is no instruction to play the narration during this presentation time, the karaoke main unit 2 starts the karaoke performance of the current song, song B, without playing the narration data.

[0078] According to the karaoke device 1 of the second embodiment, even if a singer who is not good at narration does not input narration, a pre-recorded narration voice with highly rated content that takes into consideration the connection between the current song to be sung and the previous song that was just performed can be played back, thereby livening up the atmosphere of the venue.

[0079] [Third embodiment] A karaoke device 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the karaoke device 1 according to the third embodiment. In the description of the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] The karaoke device 1 of the third embodiment is configured to reproduce sound effects when the narration voice contains reproduction words, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0081] In the third embodiment, the control unit 10, similar to the first embodiment, operates as a detection unit 20, an identification unit 21, an evaluation unit 22 and a display unit 23 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 11, and further operates as a reproduction unit 40.

[0082] In the third embodiment, the storage unit 11 stores in advance the reproduction words and the sound effects in association with each other. As shown in Fig. 5, the storage unit 11 may store the reproduction words and the sound effects in association with each other in a sound effect table, for example, by storing a sound effect file indicating the sound effect corresponding to the reproduction word.

[0083] The playback words are words that liven up the atmosphere of the karaoke singing venue, such as "Are you into it?" or "Let's go!", which inspire the audience (listener), that is, words that the singer speaks to the audience. The sound effects are also words that liven up the atmosphere of the karaoke singing venue, such as "Yay!" or "Oh!", which respond to the playback words, that is, words that the audience speaks to the singer and those around them. In other words, the playback words and the sound effects are associated in such a way that the audience responds to the playback words spoken by the singer with sound effects.

[0084] The reproducing unit 40 is configured to reproduce a sound effect associated with a reproduction word when the specific word identified from the narration voice by the identifying unit 21 matches the reproduction word stored in the storage unit 11.

[0085] Specifically, when the identification unit 21 identifies the specific word "Are you into it?" from the narration voice, the playback unit 40 searches whether the specific word "Are you into it?" is stored as a playback word in the sound effects table. Then, when the playback word "Are you into it?" is searched for in the sound effects table, the playback unit 40 reads out the sound effect file "AAAA.mp3" corresponding to the playback word "Are you into it?" from the sound effects table and plays the sound by emitting the sound using the audio input / output unit 13 and the speaker 4.

[0086] At this time, the reproducing unit 40 may reproduce the sound effect file "AAAA.mp3" immediately after the narration voice "Are you on board?" is reproduced. For example, the identifying unit 21 employs real-time voice recognition as a voice recognition method for the narration voice, and transcribes the input narration voice in real time to identify the specific word. The reproducing unit 40 reproduces a sound effect file corresponding to a reproduction word that matches the specific word identified in real time, thereby emitting a sound effect in real time for the word input as the narration voice. The reproducing unit 40 reproduces the sound effect by overlapping it with the narration voice.

[0087] According to the karaoke device 1 of the third embodiment, when a narration is performed that takes into consideration the connection between the current song to be sung and the previous song that was just performed, sound effects that respond to the narration are reproduced to liven up the atmosphere.

[0088] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the entire specification, and karaoke devices with such modifications are also included in the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1 Karaoke equipment 2 Karaoke unit 5 Display device 6 Remote control device 10 Control section 11 Storage section 20 Detection unit 21 Specific section 22 Evaluation Section 23 Display section 30 Recording Section 31 Judgment section 32 Registration Department 33 Presentation section 40 Playback Department

Claims

1. a detection unit that detects a voice as a narration voice when the voice is input by a user before the start of playing a piece of music; an identifying unit that, when the narration voice is detected, performs a voice recognition process on the narration voice to identify a specific word contained in the narration voice; an evaluation unit that evaluates the narration voice based on a comparison result between the specified specific word, a current music piece word related to a current music piece that is about to be played, and a previous music piece word related to a previous music piece that was played immediately before the current music piece; a display unit that displays a result of the evaluation of the narration voice by the evaluation unit; and Equipped with The karaoke device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit evaluates the narration voice based on a current number of matches between the specific word and the words of the current music piece and a previous number of matches between the specific word and the words of the previous music piece.

2. The karaoke device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation unit uses, as the current song words, words contained in the lyric data of the current song and / or words expressing the melody of the current song, and uses, as the previous song words, words contained in the lyric data of the previous song and / or words expressing the melody of the previous song.

3. a recording unit that records the narration voice as narration data when the narration voice is detected; a determination unit that determines whether or not to register the recorded narration data based on a result of the evaluation of the narration voice by the evaluation unit; a registration unit that registers the narration data determined to be registered in association with a combination of a current song identifier of the current song and a previous song identifier of the previous song; a presentation unit that presents the narration data corresponding to a combination of the current song identifier and the previous song identifier in a reproducible manner when the combination is registered in the registration unit; 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. a storage unit that stores playback words and sound effects in association with each other; a reproducing unit that reproduces a sound effect associated with the reproduction word when the specific word matches the reproduction word stored in the storage unit; 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

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