JP3373647B2 - Electronic keyboard instrument - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic keyboard musical instrument such as an electronic piano, and more particularly to an electronic keyboard musical instrument adapted to correct the characteristic variation of a keyboard switch used for detecting a keying speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an electronic piano, the presence or absence of keystrokes on the keyboard and the keystroke speed (velocity) are detected by a keyboard switch provided on the lower side of each keyboard, and the volume or the volume is changed according to the detected keystroke speed. It controls the timbre. By such control, it is possible to change the volume and the tone color according to the touch of the key, and it is possible to obtain the pronunciation characteristic closer to that of the acoustic piano. Further, as a keyboard switch, a rubber switch configured to be turned on sequentially by two long and short keystrokes is generally used.
The keystroke speed is detected from the N time difference. In addition, a keyboard switch that uses a piezoelectric element and detects the keystroke speed from the voltage change of the piezoelectric element is also known.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional electronic piano, since the volume and timbre are controlled according to the keystroke speed detected by the keyboard switch, the characteristics between the keyboard switches are If there are variations at times or due to deterioration due to secular change, the volume and timbre will vary among the keyboards, and the performance will feel strange. In particular, a keyboard switch using a piezoelectric element is currently unusable due to a large variation in characteristics due to the principle of keystroke detection. Of course, this problem can be solved by using a switch with higher accuracy, but in that case, the keyboard switch and thus the electronic piano become expensive.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to easily correct variations in the characteristics of the keyboard switch to obtain an appropriate volume and tone color corresponding to a key touch. The purpose is to provide an electronic keyboard instrument.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic keyboard musical instrument of the present invention is provided with a plurality of keyboards and a plurality of keyboards, each of which is provided on each of the plurality of keyboards and detects a keying speed of a corresponding keyboard. each other and the keyboard switch, several of the keyboard
Output means for outputting each detection result of the plurality of keyboard switches to the outside through the interface when a plurality of different predetermined reference keystroke strengths are respectively pressed, and an external setting based on the output result of the output means. And a rewritable speed correction value storage means that stores and stores a plurality of speed correction values inside via an interface, and a keystroke speed detected by a keyboard switch and a speed correction value storage means when the keyboard is pressed. Sound generation control means for controlling the volume and / or tone color of the musical sound to be generated in accordance with the plurality of stored speed correction values.

In this case, the interface is MIDI
There it is preferable.

[0007]

[0008]

According to the electronic keyboard instrument described above, the keyboards are mutually
To different predetermined reference keying strength at each detection result of the keyboard switch when the key depression respectively, are outputted to the outside through the interface, plural on the basis of the output result
The speed correction value of is set externally and set
A plurality of speed correction values are taken in through the interface, stored in the rewritable speed correction value storage means, and updated. As described above, the speed correction value is set based on the detection result of the keyboard switch when the keyboard is pressed with the reference key strength, and thus reflects the variation in the characteristics between the keyboard switches. Therefore, when the keyboard is pressed,
The pronunciation control means controls not only the keystroke speed detected by the keyboard switch but also the volume and / or the tone color of the musical sound to be pronounced according to the velocity correction value, thereby correcting the variation in the characteristics of the keyboard switch. Appropriate volume and tone can be obtained according to the key touch. Further, since the speed correction value is set externally and the speed correction value storage means is rewritable, it is possible to perform correction and update of the sound volume by the speed correction value as described above at any time. .
For example, when the characteristics of the keyboard switch change due to long-term use of an electronic keyboard instrument, the keyboard is struck at the standard keystroke strength, and the speed correction value is reset and updated to obtain an appropriate volume and / or Or you can get the tone again. In addition, the keys have different standard keystroke strengths.
Based on each detection result of the keyboard switch
Since multiple speed correction values are set,
Set the standard keystroke strength as, for example, fortissimo, forte,
Typing strength equivalent to Ano and Pianissimo respectively
By setting it, you can further improve the characteristics of the keyboard switch.
It can be finely corrected.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an electronic piano to which the present invention is applied. This electronic piano 1
Is a plurality of keyboards 2, a plurality of keyboard switches 3 for detecting a keystroke state of the keyboard 2, and a sound generation control circuit (sound generation control means) for generating a tone signal from the keystroke state detected by the keyboard switch 3. 4 and a reproducing unit 5 for reproducing and outputting the musical tone signal generated by the tone generation control circuit 4.

Further, the electronic piano 1 has a keying device (keying means) 6 for keying each keyboard 2 with a constant keying strength.
A speed correction value setting device (speed correction value setting means) 7 for setting the speed correction value of each keyboard switch 3 from the output of the keyboard switch 3 when the key is pressed by the keying device 6, and the speed correction value setting device 7. A MIDI interface 8 for transmitting and receiving MIDI signals to and from external devices including the panel 9, a panel 9 and a pedal 10 are provided.

The keyboard switch 3 is provided on the lower side of each keyboard 2 and is constituted by a rubber switch as shown in FIG. The keyboard switch 3 has first and second switch elements S ₁ and S ₂ extending downward from the vicinity of the upper surface, and the lower ends of the switch elements S ₁ and S ₂ are contacts C ₁ made of conductive rubber, respectively. It is C ₂ . Contact points C ₁ and C
_When the keyboard ₂ is in the released state, 2 faces a substrate (not shown) arranged below with a slight gap, and the length of this gap is larger than that of the contact C ₁ by the contact C ₂ Is longer.

Then, when the keyboard 2 is pressed, when the keyboard 2 pushes the upper surface of the keyboard switch 3, the contacts C ₁ and C ₂ sequentially come into contact with the substrate at different keystroke strokes and become conductive. The first and second switch elements S ₁ and S ₂ are turned on with a time difference, and the keystroke state of the keyboard 2 is detected from this time difference.

The tone generation control circuit 4 detects the keystroke state of the keyboard 2 based on the ON / OFF signals of the switch elements S ₁ and S ₂ of the keyboard switch 3, and a keyboard scan circuit 11 and C.
The PU 12, the ROM 13, the EPROM (speed correction value storage means) 14 for storing the speed correction value set by the speed correction value setting device 7, and the RAM 15 for temporarily storing the operation state data of the sound generation control circuit 4 and the like. A waveform memory 16 for storing waveform data, a tone generator LSI 17 for generating a tone signal in accordance with the waveform data stored in the waveform memory 16 under the control of the CPU 12, and a digital tone signal output from the tone generator LSI 17 for analog signals. Convert to D / A
And a section 18.

Of the above construction, the CPU 12 controls the operation of the electronic piano 1 as a whole, and in particular, determines whether or not the keyboard 2 is pressed based on the detection signal of the keyboard switch 3.
And the keystroke speed thereof, control of the tone generator LSI 17 for generating a musical tone signal corresponding to the keypressed keyboard 2, and communication control with external equipment.

Further, the ROM 13 stores a control program executed by the CPU 12, a tone color parameter table including attack level data, attack time data and decay time data, a touch volume data table, and various sound effect setting data. I remember.

The reproducing section 5 is composed of an amplifier 19 for amplifying the musical tone signal generated by the tone generation control circuit 4 and a speaker 20 for outputting the amplified musical tone signal as a musical tone.

The panel 9 selects the tone color of the output musical sound, sets the pronunciation of the rhythm sound and the sound effect, and displays them accordingly. The pedal 10 changes the waveform of a musical sound, and when the pedal 10 is stepped on, the duration of the sound is changed to change the sound.

The keying device 6 according to the present invention is configured so that each keyboard 2 can be keyed with a constant reference keying strength, for example, a force equivalent to Fortissimo. Therefore, the output value of each keyboard switch 3 when each keyboard 2 is tapped by the tapping device 6 reflects variations in the characteristics of each keyboard switch 3 due to variations in the distance between the contacts C ₁ and C _{2 to} the substrate. It will be what you did. The output value of each keyboard switch 3 is output to the speed correction value setting device 7 via the MIDI interface 8.

The speed correction value setting device 7 is composed of a personal computer, and sets the speed correction value for each keyboard 2 based on the output value of each keyboard switch 3. This speed correction value is set so that a constant volume and timbre can be obtained between the keyboards 2 when the keyboard 2 is struck with a constant touch during performance.

In this embodiment, this speed correction value is set as a correction coefficient M (M _{1 to} M ₈₈ ) corresponding to each keyboard 2 (88 keys) as shown in FIG. More specifically, assuming that the output value of each keyboard switch 3 when the keyboard 2 is tapped by the keyboard device 6, for example, the key tapping speed is V (V _{1 to} V ₈₈ ), the correction coefficient M is a constant K equal to V. They are respectively set as M _{1 to} M ₈₈ = K / V _{1 to} K / V ₈₈ divided by _{1 to} V ₈₈ . The correction coefficient M set in this way
Is sent to the EPROM 14 of the tone generation control circuit 4 via the MIDI interface 8 and stored therein.

Next, the tone generation control operation of the electronic piano 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, based on the detection signal from the keyboard switch 3, the keyboard scanning circuit 11 scans all the keyboards 2 in a fixed period of time, and monitors whether the keyboards 2 have been tapped (step 101).

If the keyboard 2 is tapped, step 1
Proceed to 02-107 to perform a series of sounding operations. First, R
From the tone color parameter table stored in the OM 13, tone color parameters, that is, attack level data,
The attack time data and the decay time data are read (step 102). Next, the correction coefficient M corresponding to the pressed keyboard 2 is read from the EPROM 14 (step 103).

Next, the keystroke speed is calculated from the ON time difference between the _two switch elements S ₁ and S ₂ of the keyboard switch 3 (step 104), and R is calculated according to the calculated keystroke speed.
The volume coefficient L is read from the touch volume data table stored in the OM 13 (step 105). The volume coefficient L is for determining the keystroke speed, that is, the volume corresponding to the touch of the keyboard 2, and is set to a larger value as the keystroke speed is higher.

Next, the tone color parameter read in step 102, the correction coefficient M read in step 103, the volume coefficient L read in step 105, etc. are input to the tone generator LSI 17 (step 106). .
In the tone generator LSI 17, the attack level data of the tone color parameters is multiplied by the volume coefficient L and the correction coefficient M by a multiplier (not shown) provided inside. As a result, the attack level of the musical sound output from the electronic piano 1 is determined.

The tone generator LSI 17 generates a tone signal according to the waveform data stored in the waveform memory 16 based on the attack level determined as described above, other tone color parameters, etc., and the D / A unit generates the tone signal. After the digital signal 18 is converted from the digital signal into the analog signal, the signal is output from the speaker 20 through the amplifier 19 to produce sound (step 107).

Next, it is monitored whether or not the keyboard 3 has been released (step 108), and if it has been released, a predetermined muffling operation is performed (step 109) and this program ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the attack level, which is the maximum value of the volume of the musical sound, is determined by multiplying the attack level data by the volume coefficient L and the correction coefficient M. In this way, by determining the attack level by multiplying the sound volume coefficient L, the larger the keystroke speed of the keyboard 2, that is, the stronger the key touch, the larger the sound volume can be obtained.

As described above, the correction coefficient M is a value obtained by dividing the constant K by the output value of each keyboard switch 3 when each keyboard 2 is tapped by the tapping device 6 with a constant reference tapping strength. Is set. Therefore, by determining the attack level by multiplying this correction coefficient M, it is possible to correct the variation in the characteristics between the keyboard switches 3, and to make the volume when the keyboard 3 is hit with a constant touch constant among the keyboards 3. For example, it is possible to obtain an appropriate volume according to the key touch.
Therefore, as the keyboard switch 3, it is possible to use not only the rubber switch shown in the embodiment but also a less accurate one using a piezoelectric element or the like. Further, since the attack part of the envelope has a great influence on the tone color, an appropriate tone color corresponding to the key touch can be obtained. In addition, the correction coefficient M directly
You may correct only the timbre.

Further, the correction of the sound volume by the speed correction value as described above can be performed at any time. For example, since the electronic piano 1 has been used for a long time, the keyboard switch 3 is deteriorated due to the deterioration of the rubber contacts C ₁ and C _2. When the characteristics of No. 2 are changed, the speed correction value is reset by using the key tapping device 6 and the speed correction value setting device 7, so that the proper volume and timbre corresponding to the key touch can be obtained again.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the speed correction value is set as a correction coefficient which is a multiplication value, but it may be set as a difference and added to the attack level data. Further, the keystroke device of the embodiment is configured to strike each keyboard with a constant reference keystroke strength,
The keystroke device is configured so that it can be pressed with a plurality of different standard keystroke strengths for each keyboard, for example, with a force equivalent to fortessimo, forte, piano, and pianissimo. It is also possible to determine the speed correction value of and to more finely correct the characteristics of the keyboard switch. In this case, the speed correction value of the portion other than the reference keystroke strength can be obtained by interpolating a plurality of speed correction values corresponding to the reference keystroke strength.

Further, in the embodiment, the speed correction value is set by a personal computer which is an external device, but it may be set by a dip switch or software, and as a means for storing the speed correction value. , EPROM, instead of flash memory or SRAM with battery backup can be used to eliminate the need for external equipment.
It is not necessary to go through the interface 8.

Further, the embodiment is an example of an electronic piano,
The present invention not only applies to other electronic keyboard musical instruments that use a keyboard switch, but also to other types of electronic musical instruments that produce a sound based on the result of detecting the operation information of the performance operator with the operation switch,
For example, it can be similarly applied to a wind synth or a synth drum. Besides, the detailed configuration can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0035]

As described above, the electronic keyboard instrument of the present invention can easily correct variations in the characteristics of the keyboard switch,
This has an effect such that an appropriate volume and tone color can be obtained according to the touch of the key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a sounding control operation of an electronic piano according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic piano.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a keyboard switch.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting example of a speed correction value.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic piano 2 keyboard 3 keyboard switch 4 Sound control circuit 6 keystroke device 7 Speed correction value setting device 14 EPROM M correction factor

Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10H 1/34 G10H 1/053 G10H 1/18 101

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of keyboards, a plurality of keyboard switches provided on each of the plurality of keyboards for detecting a keystroke speed of a corresponding keyboard, and a plurality of predetermined reference keystroke strengths different from each other for the plurality of keyboards. of in the plurality of keyboard switches when the keying respectively
An output unit that outputs each detection result to the outside through an interface, and a duplicate set externally based on the output result of this output unit.
A rewritable speed correction value storing means for internally storing and storing a number of speed correction values through the interface; a keying speed detected by the keyboard switch when the keyboard is pressed; and the speed correction value. An electronic keyboard musical instrument comprising: a sound generation control means for controlling the volume and / or tone color of a musical sound to be generated according to the plurality of speed correction values stored in the storage means. 2. The electronic keyboard musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the interface is MIDI .