Sound generating mechanism

Abstract

To address a problem in which, concerning a music piece containing many non-audible high frequency components of 20 kHz to 100 kHz and exerting a hypersonic effect effective for a human body, there is no means for performing and creating music with musical instrument sounds including components in this band by a digital audio work station or a MIDI controller, which makes it difficult to perform at a concert hall and create a content.SOLUTION: Software sound source data that produces a non-audible high frequency component sound signal is stored in a digital audio work station or a MIDI sound source module that can handle a sampling frequency of more than or equal to about 200 kHz, and is controlled by a MIDI controller and a sequencer function, thereby achieving performance and creation of music containing a non-audible high frequency component.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the sequencer function of a digital audio workstation (hereinafter referred to as DAW) used for creating music, and the sound generation mechanism of a sound source module that outputs musical instrument sounds controlled by MIDI signals, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Recent research has shown that music and natural sounds containing inaudible high-frequency components between 20kHz and 100kHz, which are inaudible to the human ear, stimulate the diencephalon, inducing alpha waves in the brain, creating feelings of comfort and emotion, and stimulating the hypothalamus, activating the immune and nervous systems, and having a positive effect on the human body; this effect has been dubbed the hypersonic effect. Such music and natural sounds are also said to have an improving effect on depression and dementia, and are being used in medical therapies.

[0003] Existing sound sources that produce hypersonic effects are limited to environmental sounds of the jungle, gamelan, shakuhachi, harpsichord, etc., and are therefore not suitable for playing Western music. However, even for Western instruments that do not contain high-frequency components, such as piano or guitar, it is possible to create electronic instruments that combine high-frequency components while maintaining the original tone by synthesizing inaudible high-frequency components. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Japan Machinery Federation and Digital Content Association of Japan, 2005 Research Report on Hypersonic Digital Sound Systems

[0005] [Non-patent document 2] Hypersonic Effect by Tsutomu Ohashi, Iwanami Shinsho, September 22, 2017, First Edition [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2019-003164 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention is based on Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-003164, which was an electronic musical instrument that, for example, in the case of piano sounds, generates and synthesizes audible range sounds and inaudible high-frequency components as analog signals for each key, and then mixes and outputs the analog audio signals generated by each key.

[0008] In this case, a performer with piano playing skills can play and compose and perform music, but cannot compose music using the sequencer function of the DAW.

[0009] Furthermore, it is not possible to perform musical instrument performances using data such as MIDI, which transmits and receives performance data between devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] For each scale, an audio signal is created by adding inaudible high-frequency components (Figure 1b) to the audio signal of the audible range sound (Figure 1a), and then encoding it so that it can be demodulated at a high sampling frequency that does not impair the inaudible high-frequency components, thereby creating software sound source data (Figure 1c).

[0011] The software sound source data can be used by the DAW's sequencer function, which is driven at a sampling frequency approximately twice the inaudible high-frequency band, to produce instrument sounds containing inaudible high-frequency components and output the performance as an analog audio signal.

[0012] Furthermore, by using the waveform editing functions of the DAW to apply equalization, filtering, compression, phase shift, modulation, and other effects to the inaudible high frequencies of this performance, it is possible to adjust the degree of the hypersonic effect.Furthermore, the sound can be mixed with other instrument sounds within the DAW to master the song, and then recorded and saved as a digital signal.

[0013] Furthermore, a MIDI sound module with the above software sound source data stored in its memory can be controlled by external signals such as MIDI to produce instrument sounds containing inaudible high-frequency components, making it possible to play the sounds using a keyboard-type MIDI controller or synchronize them with a sequencer.

[0014] By configuring these software sound source data to not include sound information in the audible range, it is possible to generate an audio signal containing only inaudible high-frequency components. The instrument sounds in the audible range can be generated using other software sound source data, or the live sound of the instrument can be synthesized. In this case, the audible range can be transmitted to the performance venue using a conventional sound system, and only the inaudible high-frequency components can be transmitted to the performance venue using a wideband amplifier and wideband speakers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] By working on a DAW, even operators without musical instrument skills can create music that includes the tones of musical instruments and inaudible high-frequency components.It is also possible to play using a keyboard-type MIDI controller via the MIDI interface attached to the DAW.

[0016] By incorporating this software sound source data into a MIDI sound module, it is possible to create a small, highly portable non-audible high-frequency sound source device, and by connecting it to a keyboard-type MIDI controller, it becomes possible to play musical instrument sounds containing non-audible high-frequency components regardless of location.

[0017] As a result, it becomes easier to play music containing inaudible high-frequency components, making it possible to perform such music at concert venues. It also makes it possible to create a wide variety of music content containing inaudible high-frequency components, and to mass-produce such content.

[0018] As the amount of music content that produces hypersonic effects increases, it will be possible to promote its application in areas such as immune and nervous system treatment and dementia prevention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] Problem-solving diagram [Figure 2] First Example [Figure 3] Second Example [Figure 4] Third Example [Figure 5] Fourth Example DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Software sound source data that generates inaudible high-frequency components is loaded into a DAW that can create music data at a sampling frequency of approximately 200 kHz or higher, and the sequencer function is used to produce instrument sounds that include inaudible high-frequency components, allowing for performance and music creation.

[0021] Software sound source data that generates inaudible high-frequency components is stored in the internal memory of the hardware sound source device, and the connected MIDI controller is used to control it and produce instrument sounds that include inaudible high-frequency components, allowing the device to be played. [Example]

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The sound source data is created by recording natural sounds and musical instruments containing inaudible high-frequency components, such as the notes of a harpsichord, up to a frequency range of 100 kHz or higher, replacing the audible frequency components with existing sound sources, such as piano sounds, and then processing the data with equalization and compression before converting it into digital data.

[0023] The sound source data is recorded on the hard disk (3.) of the DAW's mainframe computer as a plug-in for the DAW (2.), which can handle a sampling frequency of 192 kHz. The sequencer function generates instrument sounds, including inaudible high-frequency components, based on information such as scale, pronunciation timing, and key velocity specified.

[0024] Furthermore, the DAW's mastering function is equipped with the ability to apply effects such as equalizer, phase shifter, and modulation to inaudible high-frequency components, allowing you to adjust the effects of the hypersonic effect.

[0025] By using a DAW to process the output using PCM recording at a sampling frequency of 192 kHz, music containing components from 70 to 90 kHz, which are most effective for the hypersonic effect, can be digitally saved.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. A MIDI sound module (5) stores software sound data for creating inaudible high-frequency components in memory (4). Controlled by a keyboard-type MIDI controller (6) via a MIDI interface (7), it outputs an analog audio signal of a musical instrument sound, including inaudible high-frequency components, from the output terminal.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The MIDI sound module (5) has software sound source data stored in memory (4) that creates inaudible high-frequency components, and is controlled by a keyboard-type MIDI controller (6) via a MIDI interface (7) to send out analog audio signals of musical instrument sounds that include inaudible high-frequency components from the output terminal.

[0028] In order to transmit inaudible high-frequency components into the performance venue, the venue is equipped with a mixer (8) with a frequency response up to 100 kHz, an amplifier (9), and a speaker (10).

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The MIDI sound source module (5) is controlled by a guitar-type MIDI controller (11) instead of the keyboard-type MIDI controller of the second embodiment, and outputs audible and inaudible high-frequency components from the output terminal. In this case, the audible audio signal output from the sound source device sets a tone that matches the playing style of a stringed instrument, such as an electric guitar or a classical guitar.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The MIDI sound source module (5) is controlled by a guitar-type MIDI controller (11) as in the third embodiment, but only the inaudible high frequency components are sent out from the output terminal.

[0031] The audible range part is the guitar tone emitted by the guitar-shaped MIDI controller (11) itself, which is picked up by a pickup and sent out to the venue from the sound system (12) in the performance venue.

[0032] The MIDI sound module (5) outputs only inaudible high-frequency components, which are then sent to the venue via a mixer (13), amplifier (14), and speaker (15) that can handle audio above 100 kHz, separate from the existing sound equipment in the venue. [Industrial Applicability]

[0033] This invention applies the hypersonic effect, which is a beneficial effect on the human body of music and natural sounds containing inaudible high-frequency component audio signals in the 20 kHz to 100 kHz range that cannot be heard by the human ear, to enable performances and the creation of music that evoke emotion and excitement. Furthermore, it makes it easier to create content that exhibits the hypersonic effect, facilitating therapy and treatment. Furthermore, it contributes to improving the acoustic environment in cities. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Example of procedure for creating software sound source data for generating inaudible high-frequency components 2. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) 3. Computer hard disk (storage area) 4. Memory 5. MIDI sound module 6. Keyboard-type MIDI controller 7. MIDI Interface 8. Mixer 9. Amplifier 10. Speaker 11. Guitar-shaped MIDI controller 12. Existing sound equipment in the venue 13. Mixer 14. Amplifier 15. Speaker

Claims

1. A mechanism for generating audio signals for music to be played on an instrument that includes non-audible high-frequency components by storing software sound source data that is coded at a high sampling frequency that does not impair the non-audible high-frequency components, in a digital audio workstation that is composed of an independent computer, hard disk (storage area), digital audio interface, and MIDI interface, and in a digital audio workstation that combines the functions of these devices into one piece of hardware (hereinafter both will be referred to as digital audio workstations = DAWs), and by playing a piece of music using performance information such as the scale, note length, and keystroke strength specified by the sequencer function.

2. A mechanism that extracts part of the functions of the DAW, stores the software sound source data of claim 1 in a MIDI sound source module that stores the software sound source data of claim 1, and generates audio signals of a piece of music to be played on an instrument that includes inaudible high-frequency components by using performance information of a MIDI file recorded in a MIDI sequencer or by having a person play a keyboard-type MIDI controller in real time.

3. A sound generation mechanism characterized by applying effect processing to adjust the effect of the hypersonic effect only to the inaudible high-frequency sound components of the software sound source of each scale stored in the DAW of claim 1 and the MIDI sound source module of claim 2.

4. A sound generation mechanism in a device having the mechanism of claims 1-3, characterized in that the stored software sound source does not contain audible sound components and is composed only of inaudible high-frequency sound components, thereby outputting an audio signal containing only inaudible high-frequency components.

Images