JPH0670745B2 - Musical sound generator - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a musical tone generating device for an electronic musical instrument which reads musical tone waveform data stored in a waveform memory for a plurality of cycles and generates a musical tone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a musical tone generating device of this type, the rising and falling edges of a musical tone waveform are all stored in a memory, and the stored musical tone waveform has a speed corresponding to the pitch of an operated key. There is known a waveform reading method in which a tone is read out and a musical tone is generated.

[0003]

By the way, in order to play many kinds of music, it is required to generate musical tones of many timbres. For this reason, it is desirable that the waveform-reading tone generator described above is also capable of producing a large number of tone colors. However, in the case of a waveform-reading tone generator, an extremely huge amount of memory is required to store tone waveforms of a large number of tones, and using such a memory makes the device extremely expensive. There was a problem of becoming. On the other hand, even if an expensive waveform-reading tone generator that can generate a large number of tones is provided, the tones used in the performance of one song are only a part of the tones that can be generated, and such a device is used. It was uneconomical for the person.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and provides a musical tone generating apparatus capable of reducing the capacity of the memory, wherein a plurality of small capacity memories are provided as the memory, and an external waveform memory is provided. The musical tone waveforms stored in the memory are sequentially transferred to these small-capacity memories for use.

[0005]

A tone generating apparatus according to the present invention is configured to store tone waveform data representing tone waveforms over a plurality of cycles in a memory and read the tone waveform data in the memory to generate a tone. The musical tone generator described above can store musical tone waveform data of M (M is an integer of 2 or more) tone colors, and a plurality of writable and readable waveform memories, and an operator's manual. One of the plurality of waveform memories is operated by operation.
One is set to the writing mode and the other is set to the reading mode.
(N is an integer larger than M) The tone waveform data of a maximum of M tone colors is read from the external waveform memory capable of storing tone waveform data of tone colors, and the waveform memory is set to the write mode by the mode designating means. Write means for outputting and outputting write address data to the waveform memory in the write mode, and according to the operation of the operator,
According to the tone color designating means for selecting and designating an arbitrary tone color from the M number of tone colors, and the tone pitch designating of the tone to be generated, the musical tone waveform data of the tone color designated by the tone color designating means according to the designated tone pitch The present invention is characterized by comprising read means for generating read address data for reading and supplying it to the waveform memory in the read mode by the mode designating means.

[0006]

According to the above construction, one of the plurality of waveform memories is set to the write mode and the other waveform memories are set to the read mode by manually operating the mode designating means. Then, by the operation of the operator, the musical tone waveform data is output from the external waveform memory to the waveform memory in the writing mode. After that, the waveform memory which has been in the writing mode is changed to the reading mode, and the musical tone waveform data of the tone color selected by the tone color designating means is read from the waveform memory to generate a musical tone. During that time, the musical tone waveform data is appropriately written from the external waveform memory to another waveform memory in the write mode.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a musical sound generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 1 is an electronic organ and 2 is a data writing device.

In the electronic organ 1, 3 is a keyboard circuit, which detects a key in the ON state among the keys of a keyboard (not shown) and outputs a key code KC of the key to the address generating circuit 4. If multiple keys are pressed simultaneously, the key code KC of the highest tone (or lowest tone) key
Is output. The address generation circuit 4 has, for example, an address counter and a variable clock generation circuit, and the keyboard circuit 3
The clock pulse of the frequency corresponding to the pitch of the key indicated by the key code KC supplied from the address counter is counted by the address counter, and the sequentially changing count output is output to the terminals a of the changeover switches 5 and 6 as the address signal. The tone color selection section 7 has a large number of tone color switches for designating the tone color of the generated musical tone, and outputs the tone color code TC corresponding to the operated tone color switch to the terminals a of the changeover switches 5 and 6, respectively.

RAMs (random access memories) 8 and 9 are memories for storing musical tone waveform data,
The data read from the RAMs 8 and 9 are supplied to the terminals a and b of the changeover switch 10, respectively. These RA
Each of M8 and M9 is a small-capacity memory, and in this embodiment, a RAM having a capacity capable of storing a maximum of four types of tone waveform data is used. In addition, up to 4
The reason for selecting the types is that four types of tone colors are usually sufficient for playing one song. In these RAMs 8 and 9, ADD is an address input terminal, Din is a data input terminal, and R / W is a read / write designation terminal. The respective address terminals ADD of the RAMs 8 and 9 are connected to the respective terminals c of the switches 5 and 6, and the tone color code T output by the tone color selecting section 7 is output via these switches.
The address signal output from C and the address generation circuit 4 is supplied as read address data. By supplying the read address data in this manner, RA
Musical tone waveform data of a tone color corresponding to the tone color code TC is sequentially read from M8 or 9 in accordance with an increase in the address signal.

The sound system 11 converts the musical tone waveform data supplied from the RAM 8 or 9 via the change-over switch 10 into an analog signal and outputs it as a musical tone from the internal speaker. The changeover switch 12 includes RAMs 8 and 9
Is a switch for controlling the read / write designation terminal R / W of the RAM. When the common terminal c and the terminal a are connected, the RAM
The read / write designation terminals R / W of 8 and 9 are supplied with the "1" signal and the "0" signal, respectively.
M8 is ready to read, that is, in read mode,
The RAM 9 enters the writable state, that is, the write mode. Further, when the common terminal c and the terminal b are connected, the RAM
8 and 9 are in the opposite states to the above. In addition, 13 is an inverter. In addition, the changeover switches 5, 6, 10,
12 operate in conjunction with each other.

Next, in the data writing device 2, 15
Reference numerals 16 and 16 are cassette tapes and floppy disks in which musical tone waveform data are stored in advance, and the respective data stored in these are read out under the control of the write control circuit 17. Here, the cassette tape 15 and the floppy disk 16 are respectively prestored with a plurality of (in some cases, a single) tone color tone waveform data corresponding to each music. For example, if the tones used in the first song are tones A, B, and D, and the tones used in the second song are tones B, E, F, and G, cassette tape 15 (or floppy disk 16) , The tone waveform data of tone colors A, B, D are stored in the first area, and the tone waveform data of tone colors B, E, F, G are stored in the second area. The same applies to the third and fourth songs ....

The writing control circuit 17 is a cassette tape 15.
Alternatively, the data in the floppy disk 16 is read, converted into parallel data, and sequentially output from the terminal T _D. The output data is supplied to the data input terminals Din of the RAMs 8 and 9 via the cable 19. Further, when the write control circuit 17 outputs data from the terminal T _D , it outputs address data designating the address of the RAM 8 or 9 from the terminal T _A. This address data is cable 2
It is supplied to the terminal b of the changeover switches 5 and 6 via 0. Reference numeral 21 is a start switch.

Next, the operation of the musical tone generating apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. When the performer starts playing, first, the interlocking changeover switches 5, 6, 10, 12 are switched to the positions opposite to the positions shown in the figure, and then, for example, a switch (not shown) for selecting the cassette tape 15 is turned on. , And press the start switch 21. When the start switch 21 is pressed, the writing control circuit 17 causes the cassette tape 15
The tone waveform data of each tone color corresponding to the first music in the above are sequentially read, and the read data are sequentially output to the data input terminal Din of the RAM 8. At this time, address data is simultaneously output from the terminal T _A and RA is output via the changeover switch 5.
Output to the address input terminal ADD of M8. As a result, the musical tone waveform data of each tone color corresponding to the first tune is read into the RAM 8. The player selects any (or all) of the tone colors corresponding to the tone waveform data read by the tone color selection unit 7 when all the tone waveform data of the first music piece have been read into the RAM 8.

Next, the changeover switches 5, 6, 10 and 12 are changed over to the positions shown in the figure, and the performance of the first piece of music is started by the keyboard. When the performer starts playing, the key code KC is output from the keyboard circuit 3 and supplied to the address generating circuit 4. The address generation circuit 4 is supplied with the key code K.
An address signal that changes at a speed corresponding to the pitch of the operated key is created based on C, and is output to the address terminal ADD of the RAM 8 via the changeover switch 5. As a result, the musical tone waveform data is sequentially read from the RAM 8 and supplied to the sound system 11 via the changeover switch 10 to generate a musical tone in the sound system 11.

When the performer presses the start switch 21 before starting the above-mentioned performance, the writing control circuit 17 reads the musical tone waveform data of the second music piece from the cassette tape 15 and transfers it to the data input terminal Din of the RAM 9. Also, the address data is sent to the address input terminal ADD of the RAM 9. As a result, the musical tone waveform data of the second song is R
Written in AM9. Note that this note is written by the performer first
It is performed while performing the song. When the player finishes playing the first music piece, the changeover switches 5, 6, 10 and 12 are switched again, and the start switch 21 is pressed, so that the musical tone waveform data of the third music piece in the cassette tape 15 is stored in the RAM 8. To the read mode.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in the figure,
While playing using the tone waveform data in one RAM 8 (or 9), the other RAM 9 (or 9)
New musical tone waveform data is written in 8). Therefore, for example, when the musical tone generator according to this embodiment is used in a competition of playing an electronic musical instrument, the tone color used by the next player can be prepared during the performance of the previous player, and the progress of the competition is smooth. Can be done.
Also, the timbre used in the performance of one song is at most 4
Therefore, the memory capacity of RAM8 and 9 is small, and the memory capacity can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional method that stores all tone waveform data of all tones in the memory. Becomes

In the above embodiment, the RAM
Two memories 8 and 9 are provided, but three, four, ... Memories may be provided. By doing so, not only the tone waveform data corresponding to the tone color of the next song but also tone waveform data corresponding to each tone color of two songs, three songs, etc. can be prepared in advance in the memory. it can.

Further, interlocking changeover switches 5, 6, 1
Mechanical switches or electronic switches may be used as 0 and 12. When an electronic switch is used, the data writing device 2 is provided with a switch, and the changeover switch 5, 6, 10,
12 may be switched.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. Since the waveform memory inside the musical tone generating device only needs to store the musical tone waveforms of M tone colors (for example, 4 tone colors) corresponding to the piece of music to be played, the memory capacity may be considerably small. In this case, since the waveform memory stores a maximum of M tone color tone waveforms, the player can arbitrarily select a desired tone color from among the M tone colors and play it, impairing the degree of freedom in playing. There is no such thing. In the waveform memory, musical tone waveforms for M tones are selected from a large number of tone colors and are selectively written from an external waveform memory in which musical tone waveforms of a large number of tone colors are stored. However, it is always possible to play with a tone color suitable for the musical piece to be played, and there is no inconvenience in tone color selection due to the small capacity of the waveform memory. Since the tone color designating means provided in the musical tone generating device may be any one capable of selectively designating a desired tone color from among M tone colors, M
It is not necessary to specify a desired timbre from a larger number of timbres, the timbre designating means can be easily configured, and the timbre designating operation becomes easy. At least two waveform memories are provided so that external writing of musical tone waveforms can be performed alternately, so there is no interruption in performance, and there is no waiting time before moving on to the next song. There is no sound, and you can play continuously one after another. An external waveform memory in which musical tone waveform data for M tone colors is stored in advance for each song is used, so that the tone generating device has M tone colors for the next playing song after the performance of one song is completed. The device can be switched to immediately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a musical sound generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

8, 9 ... RAM (memory), 15 ... Cassette tape (external waveform memory), 16 ... Floppy disk (external waveform memory).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A musical tone generating apparatus configured to store musical tone waveform data representing a musical tone waveform over a plurality of cycles in a memory and read the musical tone waveform data in the memory to generate a musical tone. A plurality of waveform memories capable of storing musical tone waveform data of an integer of 2 or more) tones and being writable and readable, and one of the plurality of waveform memories by a manual operation of an operator. From the external waveform memory capable of storing musical tone waveform data of N (N is an integer larger than M) tone colors in accordance with the writing operation of the operator. The musical tone waveform data of a maximum of M timbres is read and output to the waveform memory in the write mode by the mode designating means, and the write mode Writing means for outputting the writing address data to the waveform memory, the tone color designating means for selecting and designating an arbitrary tone color from the M tone colors according to the operation of the operator, and the tone sound to be generated. In response to a high pitch designation, read address data for reading the musical tone waveform data of the tone color designated by the tone color designation means in accordance with the designated tone pitch is generated and supplied to the waveform memory in the read mode by the mode designation means. And a read-out means for performing the same.