Sound generating device, method and program

Abstract

To provide technical means for allowing a player to hear pitch sound which the player intends even if the duration of input sound is short.SOLUTION: A device includes: an input part 41 for acquiring a first electric signal indicating an input sound waveform; a discrimination part 21 for discriminating a pitch of a just intonation or equal temperament nearest to the pitch of the input sound waveform which the first electric signal indicates; and an output control part 22 for continuously outputting a second electric signal indicating the output sound waveform of the pitch corresponding to the pitch for a prescribed time from a time when the discrimination part 21 discriminates the pitch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and program for generating a sound that indicates to a performer the appropriate pitch of the sound to be played. [Background technology]

[0002] It is difficult for a player of a wind instrument such as a trumpet or flute to produce a note at the pitch intended by the player. The player may produce a note at a pitch that deviates from the intended pitch, or the pitch may deviate from the intended pitch after the note has been produced. To improve a player's performance, it is necessary to inform the player of the original pitch of the note being played and to make the player aware of any deviations from the original pitch of the note being played. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that notifies the player of the original pitch of the note being played. The device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a tuner that measures the frequency of an input note, determines the scale and octave of the input note based on the measured frequency, and produces a standard note of that scale for that octave. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-250645 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional technology described above, the standard tone is emitted while the input tone continues, and ends when the emission of the input tone ends. Therefore, if the duration of the input tone is short, the standard tone is not emitted for a sufficient period of time, making it difficult for the performer to hear the standard tone of the intended pitch.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a technical means that allows a performer to hear a sound of the pitch that the performer intended, even when the duration of the input sound is short. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a sound generating device comprising an input unit that acquires a first electrical signal that indicates an input sound waveform, a discrimination unit that discriminates the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal, and an output control unit that continuously outputs a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a pitch corresponding to the pitch for a predetermined period of time from the point at which the discrimination unit discriminates the pitch. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a sound generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an output control unit in the embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a time chart showing a first operation example of the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a time chart showing a second operation example of the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a time chart showing a third operation example of the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a time chart showing a fourth operation example of the embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a time chart showing a fifth operation example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a sound generating device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the sound generating device 100 includes a processor 10, an input unit 41, an output unit 42, a display unit 51, an operation unit 52, and a storage unit 53.

[0010] The processor 10 is a computer that controls the entire sound generating device 100. The input unit 41 is a means for collecting an input sound emitted by a performer playing an instrument and acquiring a first electrical signal representing the input sound waveform, and includes a microphone and an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion on the output signal of the microphone. The microphone may be a microphone built into the sound generating device 100 or an external microphone.

[0011] The output unit 42 receives a digital second electric signal indicating an output sound waveform from the processor 10, and includes a D / A converter that performs D / A conversion of the second electric signal, a power amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the D / A converter, and a speaker driven by the power amplifier. The speaker may be a speaker built into the sound generating device 100 or an external speaker.

[0012] The display unit 51 is a device that provides various display information to the user and is configured with a liquid crystal display panel, etc. The operation unit 52 is a means that the user operates to provide various data and instructions to the processor 10 and is configured with various operators such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 51 and the operation unit 52 may be touch panels that have the functions of both.

[0013] The storage unit 53 is a RAM (Random Access Memory). The system is made up of a volatile storage unit such as a universally accessible memory (UMRAM) and a non-volatile storage unit such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a hard disk (HD). The volatile storage unit is used as a work area by the processor 10. The non-volatile storage unit stores various programs and fixed control data. The programs stored in the non-volatile storage unit include a sound generation control program 20P that causes the processor 10, which is a computer, to function as the sound generation control unit 20.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the sound generation control unit 20 includes a discrimination unit 21 and an output control unit 22. The discrimination unit 21 is a means for measuring the frequency of an input sound waveform indicated by a first electrical signal acquired by the input unit 41 and discriminating the pitch of the input sound waveform in just intonation or equal temperament. When discriminating the pitch, the discrimination unit 21 also measures the input volume based on the amplitude of the first electrical signal. In this embodiment, the temperament (just intonation or equal temperament) that serves as the basis for pitch discrimination is selected by operating the operation unit 52. The output control unit 22 is a means for continuously outputting a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a pitch corresponding to the pitch to the output unit 42 for a predetermined period of time from the time the discrimination unit 21 discriminates the pitch. This predetermined period of time is a time that can be set by the user and is equal to or greater than a certain lower limit. Here, the lower limit value refers to the lower limit value of the time required for the user to determine the pitch of the input sound from the output sound (whether the input sound of the intended pitch is being emitted) when the second electrical signal is emitted as output sound from the output unit 42, and specifically refers to a time of about one second to several seconds. When outputting the second electrical signal to the output unit 42, the output control unit 22 adjusts the amplification factor of the power amplifier of the output unit 42 so that the output volume of the output unit 42 is greater than the input volume measured by the determination unit 21.

[0015] In this embodiment, the output control unit 22 has three operating modes for outputting the second electrical signal. The first mode is a standard sound output mode that outputs a second electrical signal having a pitch determined by the discrimination unit 21, i.e., a pitch closest to the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal in just intonation or equal temperament. The second mode is a harmony sound output mode that outputs a second electrical signal having a pitch that is in a harmonic relationship with the pitch determined by the discrimination unit 21 (i.e., a harmony pitch). The third mode is a chord output mode that outputs a second electrical signal indicating an output sound waveform in which an output sound waveform of a first pitch and an output sound waveform of a second pitch that constitute a chord together with the pitch determined by the discrimination unit 21 are superimposed.

[0016] In this embodiment, the operation mode of the output control unit 22 can be selected from among standard sound output mode, harmony sound output mode, and chord output mode by operating the operation unit 52. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the musical scale used as the basis for pitch discrimination in the discrimination unit 21 can be selected from among just intonation and equal temperament by operating the operation unit 52. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operation unit 52 includes an operator for specifying a sound source such as a trumpet or a violin. In this embodiment, the type of sound source for the output sound waveform indicated by the second electrical signal can be specified by operating this operator. Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple durations are provided as the duration for which the output of the second electrical signal is to continue. All of these multiple durations are equal to or greater than the above-mentioned lower limit. In this embodiment, a desired duration can be selected from these multiple durations by operating the operation unit 52.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the output control unit 22. As shown in Fig. 2, the output control unit 22 includes two sound sources 221 and 222, an adder 223 that adds the output signals of the sound sources 221 and 222 and supplies the added signal to the output unit 42, an output sound determination unit 224, and a drive control unit 225.

[0018] The output sound determination unit 224 determines the pitch of the output sound waveform based on the pitch of the input sound determined by the determination unit 21. When the standard sound output mode is selected, the output sound determination unit 224 sets the pitch of the output sound waveform to the pitch determined by the determination unit 21, i.e., the pitch closest to the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal in the selected musical scale. When the harmony sound output mode is selected, the output sound determination unit 224 sets the pitch of the output sound waveform to a pitch that is in a harmonic relationship with the pitch determined by the determination unit 21 in the selected musical scale. When the chord output mode is selected, the output sound determination unit 224 sets the pitch of the output sound waveform to a first pitch and a second pitch that, together with the pitch determined by the determination unit 21, constitute a chord in the selected musical scale. Furthermore, the output sound determination unit 224 determines the type of sound source that is the source of the output sound waveform in accordance with operation of the operation unit 52.

[0019] Drive control unit 225 is a means for controlling the drive of sound sources 221 and 222 to generate the output sound waveform determined by output sound determination unit 224. Each of sound sources 221 and 222 is capable of generating sound waveforms obtained from various sound sources such as a trumpet or a violin, and is also capable of controlling the pitch of the sound waveform.

[0020] When the standard sound output mode or the harmony sound output mode is selected, the drive control unit 225 causes the sound source 221 to output a second electrical signal indicating an output sound waveform corresponding to the pitch and sound source type (tone) determined by the output sound determination unit 224. This second electrical signal is supplied to the output unit 42 via the adder 223.

[0021] Furthermore, when the chord output mode is selected, drive control unit 225 causes sound source 221 to output a second electrical signal indicating an output sound waveform corresponding to the first pitch and sound source type (tone color) determined by output sound determination unit 224, and causes sound source 222 to output a second electrical signal indicating an output sound waveform corresponding to the second pitch and sound source type (tone color) determined by output sound determination unit 224. These second electrical signals are added together in adder 223 and supplied to output unit 42. The above is a description of the configuration of the sound generating device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0022] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sound generation control unit 20 in this embodiment. In Fig. 3, steps S10 and S12 are processes of the determination unit 21, and steps S14, S16, and S18 are processes of the output control unit 22.

[0023] First, in step S10, the discrimination unit 21 determines whether or not an input sound has been generated by performing a determination process such as comparing the level of the first electrical signal acquired by the input unit 41 with a threshold value. If the determination result is "NO," the discrimination unit 21 repeats the determination of step S10.

[0024] If the determination result in step S10 is "YES", the process proceeds to step S12, where the determination unit 21 measures the frequency of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal and determines the pitch of the input sound waveform in the selected musical scale.

[0025] Upon completion of step S12, the process proceeds to step S14, where output sound determination unit 224 determines the pitch and sound source type of the output sound in accordance with the determination result of determination unit 21 and the operation of operation unit 52. The processing by output sound determination unit 224 is as described above. Next, in step S16, drive control unit 225 causes at least one of sound sources 221 and 222 to output a second electrical signal indicating the output sound waveform in accordance with the determination by output sound determination unit 224.

[0026] Next, in step S18, the drive control unit 225 determines whether the output of the second electrical signal has continued for the duration specified by operating the operation unit 52. If the result of this determination is "NO", the process returns to step S16, and if the result is "YES", the process returns to step S10. In this way, the second electrical signal is continuously output for the predetermined time.

[0027] Next, an operation example of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a first operation example of this embodiment. In this first operation example, equal temperament is selected as the musical scale, and standard sound output mode is selected as the operating mode. In this first operation example, an input sound intended to resemble C3 is provided to the input unit 41. In this example, the frequency of the input sound is 250 Hz, and the pitch closest to 250 Hz in equal temperament is C3, which has a frequency of 262 Hz. Therefore, the discrimination unit 21 determines that the input sound is C4 when a predetermined time Ta has elapsed since the start of input of the input sound. Then, after the discrimination unit 21 determines the pitch, the output control unit 22 immediately outputs a second electrical signal to the output unit 42, which indicates a sound waveform with a frequency of 262 Hz, corresponding to C3 in equal temperament, and continues outputting this second electrical signal for a predetermined time Tm.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a second operation example of this embodiment. In the second operation example, as in the first operation example, equal temperament is selected as the tuning scale and standard sound output mode is selected as the operating mode. This second operation example shows how the duration for which the second electrical signal is output is switched by operating the operation unit 52. In this example, the output of the second electrical signal, which represents a sound waveform with a frequency of 262 Hz corresponding to C3 in equal temperament, is shown to be continued for a period of time Tm1, a period of time Tm2 shorter than Tm1, or a period of time Tm3 shorter than Tm2. The performer can select a duration appropriate for their own performance practice by operating the operation unit 52.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a third operation example of this embodiment. In this third operation example, equal temperament is selected as the musical scale, and harmony sound output mode is selected as the operation mode. In the third operation example, as in the first operation example, the frequency of the input sound is 250 Hz. In equal temperament, the pitch closest to 250 Hz is C (C3), which has a frequency of 262 Hz. Therefore, the discrimination unit 21 determines that the input sound is C (C3) when a predetermined time Ta has elapsed since the start of input of the input sound. Then, after the discrimination unit 21 determines the pitch, the output control unit 22 immediately outputs a second electrical signal to the output unit 42, which indicates an output sound waveform of E (E3), a pitch (frequency 330 Hz) that is a third higher than C (C3) in equal temperament (frequency 262 Hz), and continues outputting this second electrical signal for a predetermined time Tm.

[0030] 7 is a time chart showing a fourth operation example of this embodiment. In this fourth operation example, equal temperament is selected as the musical scale, and chord output mode is selected as the operation mode. In the fourth operation example, as in the first operation example, the frequency of the input note is 250 Hz, and the discriminator 21 determines that the input note is C3 when a predetermined time Ta has elapsed since the start of input of the input note. Then, immediately after the discriminator 21 determines the pitch, the output controller 22 outputs to the output unit 42 a second electrical signal representing an output sound waveform of E3 (frequency 330 Hz), which is a third above C3 (frequency 262 Hz) in equal temperament, and a second electrical signal representing an output sound waveform of G3 (frequency 392 Hz), which is a fifth above C3 (frequency 262 Hz) in equal temperament, and continues outputting these second electrical signals for a predetermined time Tm.

[0031] 8 is a time chart showing a fifth operation example of this embodiment. In the fifth operation example, as in the first operation example, equal temperament is selected as the tuning scale and standard sound output mode is selected as the operation mode. In this fifth operation example, a sound source (instrument type) different from the sound source that emits the input sound is selected by operating the operation unit 52, and the output control unit 22 continues to output a second electrical signal corresponding to this different sound source for a predetermined time Tm. In other respects, the fifth operation example is the same as the first operation example.

[0032] As described above, according to this embodiment, even if the duration of the input sound waveform is short, the output of the second electrical signal representing the output sound waveform continues for a predetermined time. Therefore, when the duration of the input sound waveform is short, the output sound continues to be emitted even after the emission of the input sound has ended. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if the duration of the input sound is short, the performer can hear a sound of the pitch intended by the performer (in the case of the standard sound output mode) or a sound of a pitch corresponding to that pitch (in the case of the harmony sound output mode or the chord sound output mode).

[0033] In this embodiment, the input sound waveform may continue beyond the period during which the output of the second electrical signal is continued. In this case, the determination result of step S18 above becomes "YES," and the process returns to step S10. Then, the process proceeds to step S14 via step S12, and a second electrical signal representing an output sound waveform having a pitch corresponding to the new pitch discrimination result is output. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if the input sound waveform continues for a long time, the output of the second electrical signal can be appropriately continued.

[0034] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the process (step S12) of the determination unit 21 is not performed while the output of the second electrical signal continues. Therefore, the power consumption of the sound generation device 100 can be reduced.

[0035] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention may have other embodiments, for example as follows.

[0036] (1) In the above embodiment, the output control unit 22 selected one type of duration from among multiple predetermined types of durations based on the operation of the operation unit 52, and continued to output the second electrical signal for the selected duration. However, the method of specifying the duration is not limited to this. For example, the operation unit 52 may be provided with an operator that can input an analog amount, such as a slider or a rotary volume, and the duration for which the output of the second electrical signal is to continue may be determined based on the amount of operation of this operator (e.g., the amount of movement of the slider).

[0037] (2) In the above embodiment, the processing of the discrimination unit 21 (step S12) was not performed during the period during which the output of the second electrical signal continued. However, the processing of the discrimination unit 21 may be performed during this period. In this case, after the output of the second electrical signal has continued for a predetermined time, if a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform is input at that time, the output sound can be immediately determined based on the pitch discrimination result of the input sound waveform, and the output of the second electrical signal can be resumed. Therefore, even if the first electrical signal continues for a long period of time, the second electrical signal can be continued for a long period of time without interruption. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 100...sound generating device, 41...input unit, 42...output unit, 10...processor, 20...sound generation control unit, 21...discrimination unit, 22...output control unit, 51...display unit, 52...operation unit, 53...memory unit, 20P...sound generation control program.

Claims

1. an input unit that acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform; a discrimination unit that discriminates the pitch of an input sound waveform represented by the first electrical signal; an output control unit that, from the point in time when the discrimination unit discriminates the pitch, starts outputting a second electrical signal that shows an output sound waveform of a pitch corresponding to the pitch and continues for a specified time, and after this start, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is after the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, continues outputting the second electrical signal for the specified time regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform shown by the first electrical signal; A sound generating device comprising:

2. The sound generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the output control unit controls the duration of the output of the second electrical signal to be equal to or greater than a lower limit value.

3. The sound generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the discrimination unit does not discriminate the pitch while the output control unit continues to output the second electrical signal.

4. 3. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the discrimination unit discriminates the pitch regardless of whether the output control unit is outputting the second electrical signal, and the output control unit continues to output the second electrical signal and then resumes outputting the second electrical signal based on the pitch discrimination result of the discrimination unit at that time.

5. The sound generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output control unit determines the pitch of the output sound waveform indicated by the second electrical signal based on a pitch in just intonation or equal temperament that is closest to the pitch of the input sound waveform.

6. 4. The sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit continues the second electrical signal for a time period designated by a user.

7. the input unit acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform; a discrimination unit discriminating the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal; A method in which, from the time the output control unit determines the pitch, it starts outputting a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a pitch corresponding to the pitch and continues for a specified time, and after this start, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is later than the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, it continues to output the second electrical signal for the specified time regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal.

8. Computer, a discrimination unit that acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform and discriminates the pitch of the input sound waveform represented by the first electrical signal; an output control unit that, from the point in time when the discrimination unit discriminates the pitch, starts outputting a second electrical signal that shows an output sound waveform of a pitch corresponding to the pitch and continues for a specified time, and after this start, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is after the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, continues outputting the second electrical signal for the specified time regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform shown by the first electrical signal; A program that makes it work.

9. an input unit that acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform; an output control unit that starts outputting a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a predetermined pitch and continues for a specified time period in accordance with the pitch of an input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal acquired by the input unit, and after the start of output, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is later than the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, continues to output the second electrical signal for the specified time period regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal; A sound generating device comprising:

10. the input unit acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform; A method in which an output control unit starts outputting a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a predetermined pitch and continues for a specified period of time in accordance with the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal acquired by the input unit, and after this start, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is later than the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal continues to be output for the specified period of time regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal.

11. Computer, an input unit that acquires a first electrical signal representing an input sound waveform; an output control unit that starts outputting a second electrical signal that indicates an output sound waveform of a predetermined pitch and continues for a specified time period in accordance with the pitch of an input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal acquired by the input unit, and after the start of output, if the end of the duration of the second electrical signal is later than the end of the duration of the first electrical signal, continues to output the second electrical signal for the specified time period regardless of the presence or absence of the first electrical signal or a change in the pitch of the input sound waveform indicated by the first electrical signal; A program that makes it work.

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