JP6851578B2 - Musical tone generator, musical tone generator, musical tone generator and electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a musical tone generator, a musical tone generator, a musical tone generator, and an electronic musical instrument.

In recent years, electronic musical instruments and personal computers have adopted a musical sound generation method using a wide variety of sound source data (waveform data) in order to reproduce musical sounds that are closer to the characteristics of original sounds such as wind instruments and stringed instruments. For example, in a software sound source running on an electronic musical instrument or a personal computer, in order to make it possible to use a larger number of waveform data for a longer period of time, unused waveform data has a slow access speed such as a flash memory or a hard disk. It is stored in a storage device with a large storage capacity (low speed and large capacity), and only the waveform data to be used is transferred to a storage device with a high access speed and a small storage capacity (high speed and low capacity) that can be directly accessed by the sound source device, and played. Some adopt a system that reads out waveform data and makes it sound according to the situation.

Here, since the product price of a high-speed low-capacity storage device is generally high and the low-speed large-capacity storage device is inexpensive, waveform data having a data size larger than the storage capacity of the high-speed low-capacity storage device can be stored at low speed. By holding it in a capacity storage device and moving it to a high-speed low-capacity storage device only when necessary and using it for sound generation, both good waveform data reading operation and product cost reduction are realized. can do. For example, Patent Document 1 and the like describe a sound source device capable of producing a musical tone having a desired timbre by synthesizing the read waveform data by adopting such a system.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-7281

However, such a system has a problem that it takes time to move waveform data from a low-speed large-capacity storage device to a high-speed low-capacity storage device. In particular, recent musical tone generation methods employ a method of switching tones according to the key range and strength played, so tones that require waveform data with a larger data size or a combination of multiple waveform data. In the case of a timbre composed of, it took more time to read the waveform data. At this time, until the waveform data is read, it is not possible to pronounce a musical tone based on the waveform data, which may interfere with the performance.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a musical sound generation device capable of more effectively shortening the time required for the musical sound generation processing using a plurality of waveform data and realizing a good performance. , A musical tone generation method, a musical tone generation program, and an electronic musical instrument.

The music sound generator according to the present invention has a first reading speed, a first storage capacity, and a first storage means for storing waveform data corresponding to each of a plurality of sound colors, and the first storage means. It has a second read speed that is faster than the read speed of, and has a second storage capacity that is smaller than the first storage capacity, and corresponds to the waveform data read from the first storage means with the tone color information. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas to be attached and stored, a waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any storage area of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other, and a tone color. When the waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is stored in any of the storage areas of the plurality of storage areas when the sound for which is specified is instructed, the storage area is stored in any of the storage areas. , When the waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, any waveform is read. Waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is stored from the first storage means in either a storage area in which the device is not reading or a storage area in which the number of waveform reading devices being read is smaller than that of the other storage areas. It is characterized by comprising a control means for transferring and reading the transferred storage area into a waveform reading device associated with the transferred storage area.

According to the present invention, it is possible to more effectively shorten the time required for the music sound generation process using a plurality of waveform data, and to realize a good performance.

It is an external view which shows one Embodiment of the electronic musical instrument to which the musical tone generator which concerns on this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the hardware of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the internal structure of the sound source LSI applied to this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the management method of the waveform data applied to this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline of the information on the RAM and the large-capacity flash memory applied to this embodiment, and the transfer process thereof. It is a figure explaining the static waveform area and the dynamic waveform area of the RAM applied to this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the static waveform area reading process applied to the initialization process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading apparatus buffer initialization processing applied to the initialization processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the tone color selection process applied to the switch process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the key press processing and the key release processing applied to the keyboard processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the note-on processing and note-off processing applied to the keyboard processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform information acquisition processing applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading start processing of the waveform reading apparatus applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reading start processing of the static waveform applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the waveform reading apparatus applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading apparatus buffer allocation processing (the 1) applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading device buffer allocation processing (the 2) applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the sound source periodic processing applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waveform reading stop processing of the waveform reading apparatus applied to the sound source periodic processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation processing of the waveform reading apparatus buffer applied to the modification of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the musical tone generation device, the musical tone generation method, the musical tone generation program, and the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Electronic musical instrument>
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an electronic musical instrument to which the musical sound generator according to the present invention is applied. Here, as an embodiment of the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention, a waveform reading type electronic keyboard instrument will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment has a keyboard (input means) 102 composed of a plurality of keys as a performance operator and a waveform selection operator on one surface side of the instrument body. A switch panel consisting of a tone color selection button (input means) 104 for selecting a tone color and a function selection button 106 for selecting various functions other than a tone color, and various modulations (playing effects) such as pitch bend, tremolo, and vibrato. ) Is added, and a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 110 for displaying a tone color and various other setting information is provided. Further, although not shown, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is provided with a speaker (output means) for outputting a musical sound generated by the performance, for example, on a back surface portion, a side surface portion, a back surface portion, or the like of the musical instrument body.

In such an electronic keyboard instrument 100, the tone color selection button 104 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a piano (“Piano” in the figure), an electric piano (“E.Piano” in the figure), an organ (“Organ” in the figure). ”), Guitar (“Guitar” in the figure), Saxophone (“Saxophone” in the figure), Strings (“Strings” in the figure), Synth (“Synth1”, “Synth2” in the figure), Drum (“Drums1” in the figure) , "Drums2"), etc. It is a button as a waveform selection operator for selecting various tone color categories. Here, in FIG. 1, 16 types of timbre categories are shown. The player (user) of the electronic keyboard instrument 100 can select and play an arbitrary timbre category from the above 16 types of timbres by pressing the arbitrary timbre selection button 104.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the hardware of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the sound source LSI applied to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 202, a sound source LSI (large-scale integrated circuit) 204, a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 214, and an I / O (input). The output) controller 216 has a configuration in which each is directly connected to the system bus 226. Further, in the electronic keyboard instrument 100, a RAM (random access memory) 208 having a high access speed (second read speed) and a low capacity (second storage capacity) is transmitted via the memory controller 206, and the access speed is high. A low-speed (first read speed) and large-capacity (first storage capacity) flash memory 212 is connected to the system bus 226 via a flash memory controller 210, respectively. Further, in the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the LCD 110 shown in FIG. 1 is keyed via the LCD controller 218, and the keyboard 102 shown in FIG. 1 and a switch panel including the tone color selection button 104 and the function selection button 106 are used as keys. The vendor / modulation wheel 108 shown in FIG. 1 is further connected to the I / O controller 216 via the scanner 220 and the A / D converter (analog-to-digital conversion circuit) 222, respectively, and these configurations are used. Is connected to the system bus 226 via the I / O controller 216. Further, the system bus 226 is connected to the bus controller 224, and signals and data transmitted and received between the above configurations via the system bus 226 are controlled by the bus controller 224. Further, a D / A converter (digital-analog conversion circuit) 228 and an amplifier 230 are connected to the sound source LSI 204, and the digital waveform data output from the sound source LSI 204 is converted into an analog waveform signal by the D / A converter 228. After being further amplified by the amplifier 230, it is output from an output terminal or a speaker (not shown). Here, at least the CPU (control means) 202, the sound source LSI (sounding means) 204, the RAM (second storage means) 208, and the large-capacity flash memory (first storage means) 212 are used to generate musical sounds according to the present invention. Configure the device.

As described above, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is configured around the system bus 226 in which the entire device is controlled by the bus controller 224. Specifically, the bus controller 224 controls the priority at the time of transmitting and receiving signals and data in each of the above configurations connected to the system bus 226. For example, in the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the RAM 208 has a configuration shared by the CPU 202 and the sound source LSI 204, but the sound source LSI 204 that performs sound generation is not allowed to lose data. The highest priority is set when transmitting and receiving to and from the RAM 208, and access to the RAM 208 by the CPU 202 is restricted as necessary.

In the above configuration, the CPU 202 is a main processor that processes the entire device, and executes a predetermined control program while using the RAM 208 as a work area to execute a control operation of the electronic keyboard instrument 100. ..

The RAM 208 is a memory device that generally has a high access speed, a low capacity, and an expensive product price as compared with the large-capacity flash memory 212 described later, and is connected to the system bus 226 via a memory controller 206 that is an interface. Will be done. The RAM 208 arranges waveform data, control programs, various fixed data, and the like transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212. In particular, the RAM 208 has a function as a sound source memory (or a waveform memory) that develops waveform data used for music sound generation processing executed in the sound source LSI 204, which will be described later, and the waveform data of the musical sound to be pronounced is always , Arranged on RAM 208. The RAM 208 is also used as a work area of the DSP (digital signal processing circuit) 306 built in the CPU 202 and the sound source LSI 204.

Here, since the storage capacity of the RAM 208 is smaller than that of the large-capacity flash memory 212, the storage contents of the RAM 208 are sequentially replaced, but a predetermined condition is satisfied (the data size exceeds the threshold value described later). The waveform data is fixedly stored in the RAM 208 in a state where the waveform data is not changed by the transfer during the performance. Further, as for the waveform data satisfying other predetermined conditions (having a data size equal to or less than the threshold value described later and having already been transferred to the RAM 208), the waveform data stored in the RAM 208 is diverted. As described above, the present embodiment is characterized by a method of managing waveform data among the stored contents of the RAM 208.

The large-capacity flash memory 212 is generally a memory device of a NAND type or the like having a low access speed, a large capacity, and a low product price, and is connected to the system bus 226 via a flash memory controller 210 which is an interface. The large-capacity flash memory 212 is used for waveform data of all tones used (or may be used) for music generation processing executed in the sound source LSI 204, parameter data of all tones, CPU 202, and a sound source. It stores various fixed data such as program data of a control program executed by DSP 306 of LSI 204, music data, and player setting data. Here, all the waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 are compressed, and for example, one word length is set to 8 bits. The waveform data and the like stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 are read out by sequential access by the CPU 202 and transferred to the RAM 208.

In this embodiment, a NAND type flash memory (actually, an SSD (Solid State Drive) configured by integrating flash memories) is applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device. , The present invention is not limited to this. For example, a hard disk (HDD) may be applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device. Here, the flash memory or the hard disk may have a structure that is removable (that is, replaceable) with respect to the electronic keyboard instrument 100. Further, when high-speed data transfer is possible, a hard disk on a specific network or the Internet (that is, on the cloud) may be applied as a large-capacity and inexpensive memory device.

The LCD controller 218 is an IC (integrated circuit) that controls the display state of the LCD 110. The key scanner 220 is an IC that scans the state of the switch panel such as the keyboard 102, the tone color selection button 104, and the function selection button 106, and notifies the CPU 202. The A / D converter 222 is an IC that detects the operating position of the vendor / modulation wheel 108. These LCD controller 218, key scanner 220, and A / D converter 222 input / output data and signals to / from the system bus 226 via the interface I / O controller 216.

The sound source LSI 204 is a dedicated IC that executes a musical sound generation process described later. Since the above-mentioned large-capacity flash memory 212 cannot be randomly accessed from the CPU 202 and cannot be accessed from the sound source LSI 204, the data and the like stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 can be randomly accessed. It is once transferred to RAM 208. Based on the command from the CPU 202, the sound source LSI 204 reads out the waveform data transferred to the RAM 208 from the storage area of the target timbre at a speed corresponding to the pitch of the key instructed in the performance, and the waveform data thereof. The amplitude envelope of the velocity instructed by the performance is added to the read waveform data, and the resulting waveform data is output as output timbre data.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the sound source LSI 204 includes a waveform generator 302 having 256 sets of waveform reading devices (sounding means) 304, a DSP 306, a mixer 308, and a bus interface 310, and the waveform generator 302. , The DSP 306 and the mixer 308 are connected to the system bus 226 via the bus interface 310 to access the RAM 208 and communicate with the CPU 202. Each waveform reading device 304 of the waveform generator 302 is an oscillator (oscillator) that reads waveform data from the RAM 208 and generates a timbre waveform, and the DSP 306 is a signal processing circuit that brings an acoustic effect to the voice signal. The mixer 308 controls the flow of the entire audio signal by mixing the signals from the waveform generator 302 and transmitting / receiving signals to / from the DSP 306, and outputs the signals to the outside. That is, the mixer 308 adds an envelope corresponding to the musical tone parameter supplied from the CPU 202 by the DSP 306 to the waveform data read from the RAM 208 by each waveform reading device 304 of the waveform generator 302 according to the performance. , Output Output as musical waveform data. As shown in FIG. 2, the output signal of the mixer 308 is output to a speaker, headphones, or the like (not shown) as an analog signal having a predetermined signal level via the D / A converter 228 and the amplifier 230.

(Waveform data management method)
Here, the waveform data stored in the above-mentioned RAM and the large-capacity flash memory will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a waveform data management method applied to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the timbre waveform split, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the timbre waveform directory.

In the present embodiment, when the performer presses the tone color selection button 104 provided on the electronic keyboard instrument 100, any tone color among the 16 types is selected and the performance is performed. As a result, in order to reproduce that not only the volume and pitch but also the timbre changes depending on the key range and velocity, the waveform data of the timbre for each pitch or volume is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208. Here, each tone color is composed of, for example, a maximum of 32 types of waveforms per tone color, and the waveform data is stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212. As a method of managing waveform data for each pitch or volume for one timbre, as shown in FIG. 4A, the key area played by the performer on the keyboard 102 (in the figure, on the horizontal axis). Waveform data is assigned to each "Key"), and even in the same key area, each velocity ("Velocity" on the vertical axis in the figure) indicating the speed (performance strength) at the time of key press is used. A management method based on a timbre waveform split structure that assigns waveform data is applied. That is, in the waveform data management method using the timbre waveform split structure, the timbre range and the velocity range are two-dimensionally divided, and a maximum of 32 waveforms are assigned to each split area. .. According to this management method, only one waveform to be read is determined from the two factors of the key pressing speed (velocity) and the key number (key area).

The waveform data stored in the RAM 208 or the large-capacity flash memory 212 is managed based on the tone color waveform directory information having a table format. The timbre waveform directory information is stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212, and is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212 by the CPU 202 and transferred to the RAM 208, for example, when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started. When playing a musical tone of a certain timbre, the CPU 202 reads the data of the timbre waveform directory information corresponding to the timbre from the RAM 208 and refers to it.

Here, in the tone color waveform directory information table, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, for each waveform data included in the tone color of one "tone color number", the "waveform number" of the waveform data and the "waveform number" of the waveform data are displayed. The "minimum velocity", "maximum velocity", "minimum key number" and "highest key number" indicating the key range and velocity range in which the waveform data should be sounded, and the storage area of the tone color transferred to the RAM 208 ( Each item value of "address from the beginning of the waveform area" indicating the address from the beginning of the waveform area) and "waveform size" indicating the data size of the waveform data is registered. That is, in the timbre waveform directory information, the key area and velocity area information indicating under what conditions each timbre waveform data is divided in the above timbre waveform split structure, and the actual large-capacity flash memory 212 Information about which address is placed inside and what the waveform size is is specified in a table format.

(Information on RAM and large-capacity flash memory)
Next, the information on the RAM and the large-capacity flash memory applied to the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment and the transfer processing thereof will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an outline of information on a RAM and a large-capacity flash memory applied to the present embodiment and a transfer process thereof. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a static waveform area and a dynamic waveform area of the RAM applied to the present embodiment. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the contents of the directory of the static waveform area (first storage area), and FIG. 6B is a waveform reader buffer area (second storage area) which is a dynamic waveform area. It is a figure which shows the contents of the directory of).

As shown in "Information on RAM" on the left side of FIG. 5, various data of tone color waveform directory, tone color parameter, CPU program, CPU data, CPU work, DSP program, DSP data, and DSP work are developed on RAM 208. Will be done. Further, on the large-capacity flash memory 212, as shown in "Information on the large-capacity flash memory" on the right side of FIG. 5, the tone color waveform directory, tone color parameter area, CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, and DSP data are displayed. Various data are expanded.

Here, when the sound source LSI 204 executes the waveform reading operation with the performance of the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the waveform data to be read needs to be arranged on the RAM 208. Therefore, for example, when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started up. The tone color waveform directory information, tone color parameters, CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, and DSP data shown in FIG. 4B are transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208.

Further, when playing the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the waveform data to be read by the sound source LSI 204 also needs to be transferred to the RAM 208, but the RAM 208 has a smaller storage capacity than the large-capacity flash memory 212. Therefore, the waveform data of all the tones stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 cannot be arranged on the RAM 208.

In the present embodiment, basically, the waveform data required for sounding by playing is read from the large-capacity flash memory 212, transferred to the waveform buffer assigned to each waveform reading device 304 on the RAM 208, and temporarily transferred. It is saved and read and played back by the sound source LSI 204. Here, in the case of waveform data having a large data size, the transfer from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 takes a long time, and the sound response is delayed, which may interfere with the performance. Therefore, in the present embodiment, among the waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212, the waveform data having a data size exceeding a predetermined threshold value is arbitrary prior to the start of the performance of the electronic keyboard instrument 100. At the timing of, for example, at the time of startup (when the power is turned on), all the data is transferred to the RAM 208 in advance. In the present embodiment, for example, 64 Kbytes is set as a threshold value that defines the data size that is the criterion for determining the waveform data transfer process. According to such a threshold value setting, for example, the timbre waveform of a musical instrument such as a piano or a cymbal is transferred to the RAM 208 at startup because the data size is larger than the threshold value.

On the other hand, in the case of low-capacity waveform data whose data size is equal to or less than the threshold value (64 Kbytes), such as the tone waveform of a musical instrument such as a guitar, the large-capacity flash memory 212 is used each time a key is pressed during a performance. Transfer to RAM 208. Here, the waveform data transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 at the time of performance is used from any of the waveform reading devices 304 among the plurality of waveform buffers on the RAM 208 set corresponding to the plurality of waveform reading devices 304. The waveform buffer that has not been selected is selected and saved by overwriting. Alternatively, the waveform data to be transferred is overwritten and saved by preferentially selecting from the number of waveform buffers used by the waveform readout device 304 or the waveform buffers that are used less frequently. In the management at the time of transferring the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the waveform buffer, the waveform data stored in each waveform buffer of the RAM 208 is being used for sound generation by any waveform reading device 304. It is executed based on the management information that manages (in real time) while updating sequentially whether or not there is.

The threshold value applied to the above waveform data transfer process is set based on, for example, the processing load of the CPU 202 during performance, the delay time, and the like. Specifically, in the performance of the electronic keyboard instrument 100, in general, when the total delay time from the time of pressing a key to the sounding of a musical tone exceeds approximately 10 msec, the performer tends to recognize that the response to the keying is slow. Therefore, the delay time allowed for the transfer processing of each tone color waveform data is calculated in consideration of the processing performance of the CPU 202, the signal delay in the peripheral circuit, and the like. Then, the transfer process is completed within this fixed allowable delay time, and the data size of the timbre waveform that can minimize the storage capacity of the RAM 208 is set as the threshold value. An example of the threshold value calculated by the inventors based on such a condition is 64 Kbytes.

In the present embodiment, the case where the threshold value is set for the data size of the timbre waveform has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the pitch and velocity that define the timbre waveform. The threshold value may be set based on the same concept as described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to reduce the processing load of the CPU 202 during the performance and reduce the processing time, the performance is instructed prior to the transfer processing of the waveform data whose data size is equal to or less than the threshold value. It is investigated (searched) whether or not the waveform data of the musical sound is transferred to the RAM 208 in advance and exists. If the corresponding waveform data already exists on the RAM 208, the CPU 202 does not transfer the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212, but diverts the waveform data in the RAM 208. The method of diverting this waveform data will be described in detail later.

In the present embodiment, by these processes, the storage capacity of the waveform buffer for temporarily storing the waveform data below the threshold value is added to the capacity capable of storing all the waveform data exceeding the above threshold value. A RAM 208 having a storage capacity may be applied. According to the verification by the inventors of the present application, there is a possibility that the storage capacity used for the RAM can be compressed to about 1/4 to 1/5 of the conventional one by applying the present embodiment. It was confirmed.

The “static waveform directory” shown in FIG. 6A is waveform data that exceeds the threshold value (64 Kbytes) applied to the above waveform data transfer process in the “information on RAM” shown in FIG. Indicates the contents of the directory of the static waveform area of the RAM 208 in which the data is stored. As shown in FIG. 5, in this static waveform directory, all waveform data exceeding the threshold value (64 Kbytes) from the tone color waveform directory of the large-capacity flash memory 212 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started are in each of the static waveform regions. It is transferred to an area (storage area), and is created in the work area (CPU work) of the CPU 202 at that time. The contents of the static waveform directory are fixedly stored and are not changed after the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the contents of the static waveform directory include the tone number to which the waveform belongs for each waveform data (static waveform 1, 2, ... N) transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212. The waveform number in the tone, the start address from the static waveform area where the waveform is arranged, and the waveform size are stored. Here, since the number of static waveforms transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 and the capacity of the entire waveform data are determined in advance based on the above threshold values, the static waveform area on the RAM 208 is correspondingly determined. And each area of the static waveform directory is fixedly allocated.

The “waveform reader buffer directory” shown in FIG. 6B is a waveform below the threshold value (64 Kbytes) applied to the above waveform data transfer process in the “information on RAM” shown in FIG. It shows the contents of the directory of the dynamic waveform area of the RAM 208 in which the data is stored. As shown in FIG. 5, in this waveform reader buffer directory, waveform data of the threshold value (64 Kbytes) or less is stored in the waveform reader buffer area from the tone color waveform directory of the large-capacity flash memory 212 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is played. It is transferred to each area (storage area) and secured in the work area (CPU work) of the CPU 202. The contents of the waveform reader buffer directory are variably stored as the performance is performed, and are updated when the musical tone is sounded or muted.

In the waveform reader buffer directory, a fixed length of 64 Kbytes is allocated to each waveform reader 304, and waveform buffers 1 to 256 are set so as to correspond to 256 sets of waveform readers 304 in a one-to-one relationship. There is. As a result, the electronic keyboard instrument 100 of the present embodiment has a configuration capable of simultaneously sounding 256.

In the waveform read device buffer directory, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), for each waveform buffer corresponding to each waveform read device 304, the buffer number, the link flag, the link buffer number, the transferred flag, the access count, and the like. The timbre number, the waveform number in the timbre, and the waveform size are stored. The link flag indicates whether or not the waveform buffer corresponding to the own waveform reading device 304 is diverting the waveform data stored in the waveform buffer corresponding to the other waveform reading device 304 in the waveform data diversion processing described later. It is a flag indicating whether or not, and "1" is set when it is diverted, and "0" is set when it is not diverted. The link buffer number stores the number of the waveform buffer in which the waveform data diverted to its own waveform buffer exists. Here, since it is not possible to set a link for diverting the waveform data to its own waveform buffer, the waveform data remains in the waveform buffer corresponding to the (own) waveform readout device 304 to which the waveform data is assigned. In this case, the waveform buffer is used as it is for the reading operation of the waveform data without setting the link.

Further, the transferred flag is a flag indicating whether or not the transfer of waveform data is actually completed from the diverted waveform buffer, and if it has been transferred, "1" is set. The access count indicates how many waveform readers 304 are accessing the waveform buffer in which the waveform data is diverted. The count is incremented at the time of sounding and decremented at the completion of reading. Indicates that the waveform buffer is unused when it is "0". The timbre number, the waveform number in the timbre, and the waveform size are information unique to the waveform data read in the waveform buffer. Specifically, for example, in the waveform buffer of the buffer number "2" shown in FIG. 6B, the link flag is "1" and the link buffer number is "4", so that the buffer number is "4". Since the waveform data stored in the waveform buffer of "" is diverted, and the transferred flag is "1" and the access count is "2", the waveform data of the waveform buffer "4" is actually It is shown that the waveform buffer is in the read state, and the waveform buffers corresponding to the two waveform readers 304 are currently being accessed and are being read out with respect to the waveform buffer “4”.

These pieces of information stored in the waveform reader buffer directory indicate the storage state of the waveform data in each waveform buffer in the RAM 208 and the diversion state of the waveform data (that is, the link destination setting and the usage state of the waveform buffer, etc.). It is information, which is included in the above-mentioned management information, and is managed (in real time) while being updated sequentially.

<Control method for electronic musical instruments>
Next, the control method (musical tone generation method) of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, the entire control method of the electronic keyboard instrument including the musical tone generation method, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. Further, the series of control processes shown below are realized by executing a predetermined control program stored in the RAM 208 in the CPU 202 and the sound source LSI 204.

(How to divert waveform data on RAM)
First, a method of diverting waveform data on the RAM 208 applied to the electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the electronic keyboard instrument 100 according to the present embodiment, when the player presses a key, the CPU 202 has a large number of simultaneous sounds (that is, there are many sound channels). Determine device 304. Here, the key assignment is preferentially assigned from the waveform reading device 304 whose sound is stopped, but even when the waveform reading device 304 itself has stopped reading, the waveform buffer of the waveform reading device 304 Is used by another waveform reading device 304, the waveform reading device 304 is not assigned, and a determination is made to maintain the current state as much as possible.

More specifically, the CPU 202 manages (in real time), for example, sequentially updating the history information indicating what kind of waveform data is read out in what order each waveform reading device 304 is used. Based on the history information, the waveform reading device 304 associated with the waveform buffer that is not used for the waveform data reading operation from any waveform reading device 304, the waveform reading device 304 that is infrequently used, and the time old The waveform reading device 304 or the waveform reading device 304 having a small data size of the read waveform data is preferentially assigned to execute the waveform reading operation.

Next, the CPU 202 identifies the waveform number of the musical tone instructed by the performance from the split information of the timbre waveform shown in FIG. 4A based on the velocity and the key area at the time of key pressing, and the corresponding waveform data is shown in the figure. It is investigated whether or not it exists in the tone waveform directory on the RAM 208 shown in 5. Here, the CPU 202 first investigates whether or not the corresponding waveform data exists in the static waveform area of the tone color waveform directory on the RAM 208, and if it does not exist in the static waveform area, it is a dynamic waveform area. Further investigate whether or not it exists in the waveform reader buffer area.

When the corresponding waveform data exists in the static waveform area on the RAM 208, the CPU 202 makes the waveform data a target of a read operation for sounding, which will be described later. Further, when the corresponding waveform data does not exist in the static waveform area but exists in the waveform reader buffer area, the CPU 202 does not read the waveform data from the large-capacity flash memory 212, but in the same RAM 208. By setting the buffer area as the link destination in, the waveform data is diverted.

As a result, the waveform data can be arranged on the RAM 208 in a very short time as compared with the transfer process from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208. If the waveform data already exists in the waveform buffer corresponding to the assigned waveform reading device 304, it is not necessary to transfer the waveform data, and the waveform data is used for the reading operation for sounding. To. On the other hand, when the corresponding waveform data does not exist in either the static waveform area or the waveform reader buffer area, the CPU 202 transfers the corresponding waveform data stored in the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208. To do.

Then, when the instructed musical tone waveform data exists on the RAM 208 and the position of the waveform buffer corresponding to the assigned waveform reading device 304 is determined, the CPU 202 starts the reading operation for sound generation in the sound source LSI 204. To do.

Hereinafter, a control method for an electronic keyboard instrument to which the above waveform data diversion method is applied will be described in detail.
(Main routine)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a control method for an electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the method for controlling an electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment, the following processing operations are roughly executed. First, when the device power of the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is powered on by the performer, the CPU 202 activates the main routine shown in FIG. 7 and executes an initialization process for initializing each part of the device (step S702).

Next, when the initialization process is completed, the CPU 202 processes a switch process (steps S704 to S708) when the performer operates the tone color selection button 104 or the like, and a key press event or a key release event when the keyboard 102 is played. Keyboard processing (steps S710-S718), MIDI reception processing (steps S720-S728) for processing note-on events and note-off events of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) messages received from outside the electronic keyboard instrument 100, constant in the sound source. A series of processing operations of the sound source periodic processing (step S730), which performs processing for each hour, is repeatedly executed.

Although not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 202 terminates or interrupts the performance mode or powers off the device power during each of the above-described processing operations (steps S702 to S730). When a change in state is detected, the main routine is forcibly terminated.

Hereinafter, each of the above-mentioned processing operations will be specifically described.
(Initialization process)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an initialization process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the initialization process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment, first, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 202 is charged from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the CPU program, CPU data, DSP program, and so on. After transferring the DSP data to the RAM 208 (steps S802 and S804), the tone color waveform directory portion is subsequently transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the designated address on the RAM 208 (step S806). Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, the tone color waveform directory portion includes the key area and velocity area information that are the division conditions for each waveform of each tone color, and the arrangement address in the large-capacity flash memory 212. It has a table format in which information on wavelength size is collected.

Next, the CPU 202 performs a static waveform area reading process for constructing a static waveform area portion and the static waveform directory shown in FIG. 6A on the RAM 208, which should be transferred from this tone waveform directory to the RAM 208 when the electronic keyboard instrument 100 is started. Is executed (step S808).

Next, the CPU 202 uses each waveform reading device 304 to construct the waveform reading device buffer directory portion shown in FIG. 6B on the RAM 208, which is used by the waveform reading device 304 of the sound source LSI 204 for reading the waveform data. The waveform reader buffer initialization process for initializing the waveform buffer corresponding to the above is executed (step S810).

Next, the CPU 202 transfers the tone parameters necessary for sounding, such as pitch, filter, and volume settings, from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 (step S812).

(Static waveform area read processing)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a static waveform region reading process applied to the initialization process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the static waveform area reading process applied to the initialization process described above, first, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 202 initially sets the counter (B) for managing the number of static waveforms to “0”. (Step S902). Next, the CPU 202 sets and initializes the start address to which the static waveform should be arranged as the address information when transferring the static waveform to the RAM 208 (step S904).

Next, the CPU 202 checks the waveform size in order from the top of the tone color waveform directory table, and determines whether or not the waveform is a static waveform having a waveform size exceeding a preset threshold value (64 Kbytes) (step S908). ). When the waveform size exceeds the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 determines that the waveform is a static waveform, and refers to the address on the RAM 208 of the address information beyond the large-capacity flash memory 212. The waveform data is transferred for the above size (step S910). At this time, the CPU 202 sets the tone color number, the in-tone waveform number, the arrangement start address, and the waveform size of the transferred waveform in the CPU work as static waveform directory information (step S912).

Next, the CPU 202 adds the waveform size of the transferred waveform to the address of the address information, updates the address information of the waveform arranged on the RAM 208 (step S914), and manages the number of static waveforms. (B) is incremented (step S916). On the other hand, when the waveform size is equal to or less than the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 does not transfer the static waveform and maintains the current setting. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S906, S918) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S908 to S916) are repeated for the number of elements of the tone waveform directory table (that is, up to the last element of the table information). After the loop processing is completed, the CPU 202 saves the number of static waveforms in the CPU work (step S920).

(Waveform reader buffer initialization process)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a waveform reading device buffer initialization process applied to the initialization process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform reader buffer initialization process applied to the above-described initialization process, first, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 202 first manages the number of the waveform buffer arranged on the RAM 208. Is set to "1" and initialized (step S1002). Next, the CPU 202 sets the link flag, the transferred flag, the access count, the tone number, the in-tone waveform number, and the waveform size stored in the waveform reader buffer directory in order from the waveform buffer having the buffer number “1”. It is set to "0" (step S1006), and the link buffer number is set to its own waveform buffer number (= counter value) (step S1008). As a result, when the waveform buffer number and the link buffer number are the same, the read operation is not performed on the other waveform buffers, and the read operation is performed on the own waveform buffer.

Next, the CPU 202 increments the counter (C) that manages the waveform buffer number arranged on the RAM 208 (step S1010). The CPU 202 repeats the above series of processing operations (steps S1006 to S1010) for each of the 256 waveform buffers corresponding to 256 sets of waveform reading devices in a one-to-one relationship (steps S1004 and S1012). To initialize each waveform buffer.

(Switch processing)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a tone color selection process applied to the switch process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the switch process (step S704) executed when the performer operates the buttons and switches provided on the electronic keyboard instrument 100, the CPU 202 determines whether or not a tone color selection event has occurred due to the switch operation. (Step S706), and when it is determined that the tone color selection event has occurred, the tone color selection process is executed (step S708).

In the tone color selection process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 202 uses the tone color number designated by the performer by operating the tone color selection button 104 in the key pressing process described later, so that the RAM 208 is used. It is saved in the above CPU work (step S1102). On the other hand, when it is determined that the tone color selection event has not occurred, or when the above tone color selection process is completed, the CPU 202 executes the keyboard process described later (step S710).

(Keyboard processing)
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a key pressing process and a key release process applied to the keyboard processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a note-on process and a note-off process applied to the keyboard process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

In the keyboard process (step S710) executed after the above switch process (step S704), the CPU 202 causes a key press event or a key release event by the performer operating the keyboard 102 provided on the electronic keyboard instrument 100. Is determined, respectively (steps S712 and S716). When the CPU 202 determines that a key pressing event has occurred, it executes a key pressing process described later (step S714), and when it determines that a key release event has occurred, it executes a key release process described later. (Step S718).

In the key pressing process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12A, the CPU 202 determines the key position and the pressing strength included in the performance information by the key pressing operation when the performer plays the keyboard 102. It is converted into a key number (note number) and velocity, respectively, and held as note-on information (step S1202), and processing is executed as a note-on event (step S1204).

In the note-on process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 13A, the CPU 202 first executes a process of acquiring waveform information from the note-on information converted from the performance information in the key press process (step S1302). Next, the read start process in the waveform read device 304 of the sound source LSI 204 is executed (step S1304).

Further, in the key release process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12B, the CPU 202 determines the key position (note number) included in the performance information due to the release of the key when the performer plays the key 102. ), Retained as note-off information (step S1222), and processing is executed as a note-off event (step S1224).

In the note-off process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 (b), the CPU 202 first acquires a key number (note number) from the note-off information converted from the performance information in the key press process (step S1322). .. Next, the CPU 202 confirms the state of the waveform reading device 304 in order from the number "1" of the waveform reading device 304, and for each waveform reading device 304 that is reading the waveform, the waveform reading device from the CPU work on the RAM 208. The key number corresponding to 304 is acquired, and it is compared whether or not it matches the key number acquired from the note-off information (step S1326). When the key numbers match, the CPU 202 sets the release level to "0" for the volume control (amplifier envelope) connected to the waveform reading device 304, and obtains it from the tone parameter on the RAM 208. The release rate is set (step S1328). On the other hand, if the key numbers do not match, the CPU 202 maintains the current amplifier envelope setting. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1324, S1330) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S1326 to S1328) are repeated for a number of minutes of the waveform reading device 304 that is reading the waveform.

Here, each processing operation applied to the note-on processing executed in the above key pressing processing will be described in detail.
(Waveform information acquisition processing)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a waveform information acquisition process applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform information acquisition process executed in the note-on process, the CPU 202 first acquires the key number (note number) and velocity from the note-on information acquired in the key press process, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. (Step S1402), the tone color number saved in the tone color selection process is acquired from the CPU work on the RAM 208 (step S1404).

Next, the CPU 202 compares whether or not the acquired key number, velocity, and tone color number match the table information in order from the beginning of the tone color waveform directory table (step S1406). In this comparison process, the CPU 202 extracts table information in which the tone color numbers match, the key numbers are the highest key number or less and the lowest key number or more, and the velocity is the maximum velocity or less and the minimum velocity or more (step). S141 to S1418), the waveform number and waveform size of the table, and the address from the beginning of the waveform area are acquired (steps S142 to S1424). On the other hand, in the above comparison process, the tone color numbers do not match, the key number is larger than the highest key number, or smaller than the lowest key number, or the velocity is larger than the maximum velocity or smaller than the minimum velocity. When any of the conditions is met, the CPU 202 does not acquire waveform information such as a waveform number. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1408, S1426) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S141 to S1418) are repeated for the number of elements of the tone waveform directory table (that is, up to the last element of the table information).

(Waveform read start processing)
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a waveform reading start processing of the waveform reading device applied to the note-on processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform reading start processing of the waveform reading device executed in the note-on processing, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the CPU 202 first sets the waveform size acquired in the waveform information acquisition processing to a preset threshold value. It is determined whether or not (64 Kbytes) is exceeded (step S1502). When the waveform size exceeds the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the static waveform read start process described later is executed (step S1504), while when the waveform size is equal to or less than the threshold value (64 Kbytes). Executes the waveform reader buffer allocation process described later (step S1506).

(Static waveform read start processing)
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a static waveform read start process applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

In the static waveform read start process executed when the waveform size acquired in the note-on process exceeds the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 first uses the sound source LSI 204 as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. In the waveform generator 302, an allocation process for determining which waveform reading device 304 is to be used is executed (step S1602). The allocation process of the waveform reading device 304 will be described later. Next, the CPU 202 saves the key number acquired in the key pressing process as the information of the assigned waveform reading device 304 in the CPU work on the RAM 208 for use in the key release processing (note-off processing) or the like (step). S1604).

Next, the CPU 202 compares whether or not the tone color numbers and waveform numbers acquired by the above tone color selection process and waveform information acquisition process match the directory information in order from the beginning of the static waveform directory (steps S1608, S1610). ). When both the tone color number and the waveform number match, the CPU 202 acquires the start address in which the waveform is arranged on the RAM 208 based on the static waveform number (step S1612), and the assigned waveform reading device 304 uses the assigned waveform reading device 304. , The waveform reading operation is started from the acquired start address (step S1616). On the other hand, in the above comparison process, if either the tone color number or the waveform number does not match, the CPU 202 does not acquire the start address. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1606, S1614) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S1608 to S1610) are repeated for the number of static waveforms stored in the CPU work.

(Allocation processing of waveform reader)
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an allocation process of the waveform reading device applied to the note-on process of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform reading device allocation process executed in the static waveform reading start process, the CPU 202 first tentatively sets "1" as a candidate number for allocating the waveform reading device 304, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. Set and initialize (step S1702).

Next, the CPU 202 checks the state of the waveform reading device 304 in order from the number "1" of the waveform reading device 304, and determines whether or not the waveform data is being read (step S1706). When the current waveform reading device 304 is reading waveform data, the CPU 202 confirms the state of the waveform reading device 304 having the candidate number based on the number (candidate number) of the waveform reading device 304 as an allocation candidate. (Step S1708). When the waveform reading device 304 of the candidate number is reading the waveform data, the CPU 202 determines the value of the accessing count of the number of the current waveform reading device 304 and the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned. Comparison with (step S1710). When the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned is large (that is, the value of the accessing count of the current waveform reading device 304 number is smaller than the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned). In the case), the CPU 202 updates and sets the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned to the number of the current waveform reading device 304 (step S1718).

On the other hand, in step S1708, when the waveform reading device 304 of the candidate number does not read the waveform data, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform reading device 304 is stopped, and determines that the waveform reading device 304 has the number of the waveform reading device 304. Keep the current settings without updating. Further, in step S1710, when the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned is small (that is, the access of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned by the value of the accessing count of the current waveform reading device 304 number). In the case of the value of the medium count or more), the CPU 202 does not update the number of the waveform reading device 304 and maintains the current setting.

On the other hand, in step S1706, when the current waveform reading device 304 is not reading (stopping) the waveform data, the CPU 202 sets the value of the accessing count of the waveform buffer corresponding to the number of the current waveform reading device 304 to ". It is determined whether or not it is "0" (step S1712). When the value of the access count is "0", the CPU 202 determines that there is no access to the waveform buffer from the other waveform reading device 304 and the waveform reading operation is also stopped, and the current waveform. The reading device 304 is assigned (step S1722).

On the other hand, in step S1712, when the value of the access count is other than "0", the CPU 202 determines that there is access to the waveform buffer from another waveform reading device 304, and the waveform reading device of the allocation candidate number. The state of 304 is confirmed (step S1714). When the waveform reading device 304 of the candidate number is reading the waveform data, the CPU 202 updates and sets the candidate number of the assigned waveform reading device 304 to the number of the current waveform reading device 304 (step S1718).

On the other hand, in step S1714, when the waveform reading device 304 of the candidate number does not read the waveform data, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform reading device 304 is stopped, and the current waveform reading device 304 The value of the in-access count of the number of is compared with the value of the in-access count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned (step S1716). When the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned is large (that is, the value of the accessing count of the current waveform reading device 304 number is smaller than the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned). In the case), the CPU 202 updates and sets the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned to the number of the current waveform reading device 304 (step S1718).

On the other hand, in step S1716, when the value of the accessing count of the candidate number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned is small (that is, the access of the candidate number of the waveform reading device to be assigned by the value of the accessing count of the current waveform reading device 304 number). (When the value is equal to or greater than the medium count value), the number of the waveform reading device 304 is not updated, and the current setting is maintained. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1704, S1720) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S1706 to S1718) are repeated for several minutes of the waveform reading device 304.

After the loop processing is completed, the CPU 202 uses the waveform reading device of the candidate number if the number of the waveform reading device 304 to be assigned is not determined when the confirmation of the state for the number of waveform reading devices is completed. Allocate for static waveforms (step S1724). At this time, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the assigned waveform reading device 304 is reading the waveform data (step S1726), and if the waveform is being read, the CPU 202 is connected to the high release process (waveform reading device 304). In the volume control, the waveform reading operation of the assigned waveform reading device 304 is stopped after executing the process (process of rapidly setting the volume level to "0") (step S1728). On the other hand, when the waveform data is not read, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform reading device 304 is stopped, and maintains the current setting.

(Waveform reader buffer allocation process)
18 and 19 are flowcharts showing a waveform readout device buffer allocation process applied to the note-on process of the electronic keyboard instrument control method according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform reader buffer allocation process executed when the waveform size acquired in the note-on process is equal to or less than the threshold value (64 Kbytes), the CPU 202 first, as shown in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the waveform generator 302 of the sound source LSI 204, an allocation process for determining which waveform reader 304 to use is executed (step S1802). Here, a process equivalent to the allocation process (step S1602) of the waveform reading device 304 shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 16 and 17 is applied.

Next, the CPU 202 saves the key number at this time in the CPU work as the information of the assigned waveform reading device 304 (step S1804). Next, the CPU 202 compares whether or not the tone color number and the waveform number acquired by the above tone color selection process and the waveform information acquisition process match the information of the waveform buffer corresponding to the assigned waveform readout device 304 (). Steps S1806 to S1810). When both the tone color number and the waveform number match, the CPU 202 determines that the waveform data has already been transferred (step S1812), and starts the waveform reading operation from the beginning of its own waveform buffer (step S1838). .. On the other hand, in the above comparison process, if either the tone color number or the waveform number does not match, the CPU 202 confirms whether or not the waveform data has already been transferred to another waveform buffer.

First, the CPU 202 initializes the waveform buffer counter (C) to "1" (step S1814), and sequentially obtains the tone number obtained by the above-mentioned tone color selection process and waveform information acquisition process in order from the waveform buffer having the buffer number "1". And the waveform numbers are compared with each other to see if they match the information of the waveform data stored in each waveform buffer (steps S1818 and S1820). When both the tone color number and the waveform number match, the CPU 202 stops the above comparison process, and as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 19, whether or not the counter value of the matched waveform buffer and the link buffer number match. (Step S1902). When the link buffer number matches the value of the waveform buffer counter, the CPU 202 sets the waveform buffer number to the link buffer number of its own waveform buffer (step S1904). On the other hand, when the link buffer number does not match the waveform buffer counter, the CPU 202 sets the link buffer number of this waveform buffer to the link buffer number of its own waveform buffer (step S1906).

Next, the CPU 202 sets the link flag of its own waveform buffer to "1" (step S1908), and increments the value of the access count of the waveform buffer corresponding to the link buffer number of its own waveform buffer (step S1910). , The waveform read operation is started from the start address of the waveform buffer corresponding to the link buffer number of its own waveform buffer (step S1912). That is, the waveform data that has already been transferred to the RAM 208 is not newly transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S1816, S1822) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S1818 to S1820) are repeated for each of the 256 waveform buffers.

In the above series of processing operations (steps S1818 to S1820), if either the tone color number or the waveform number does not match and neither the tone color number nor the waveform number matches, the CPU 202 has its own The waveform data is transferred from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208 based on the waveform number, the waveform size, and the address information from the beginning of the waveform area acquired in the waveform information acquisition process to the waveform buffer (step S1824). At the same time as this transfer operation, the CPU 202 sets the link flag of its own waveform buffer to "0" (step S1826), and sets the link buffer number of the assigned waveform reading device 304 to its own waveform buffer number (step). S1828). Further, the CPU 202 sets the value of the access count to "1" (step S1830), and sets the tone number, the in-tone waveform number, and the waveform size in the tone waveform directory as the waveform data is transferred onto the RAM 208. (Step S1832).

Next, the CPU 202 confirms the transfer state of the waveform data, and determines whether or not the transfer of the waveform data is completed (step S1834). When the waveform data is being transferred, the CPU 202 maintains the state, and when the transfer of the waveform data is completed, the transferred flag is set to "1" (step S1836), and its own waveform buffer. The waveform reading operation is started from the beginning of (step S1834).

(MIDI reception processing)
Returning to the main routine shown in FIG. 7, in the MIDI reception process (step S720) executed after the above keyboard process (step S710), the CPU 202 includes a note-on event and a note-off event in the received MIDI message. If it is determined that there is a note-on event (step S722, S726), the note-on process is executed (step S724), and if it is determined that there is a note-off event, it is determined. , The note-off process is executed (step S728). Here, a process equivalent to the note-on process (step S1204) or the note-off process (step S1224) shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 13 is applied.

(Sound source periodic processing)
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a sound source periodic process applied to the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the sound source periodic processing (step S730) executed after the MIDI reception processing (step S720), the CPU 202 executes the sound source processing at regular time intervals as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. The CPU 202 confirms the state of the waveform reading device 304 in order from the number "1" of the waveform reading device 304, and the volume control (amplifier envelope) level is "0" for each waveform reading device 304 that is reading the waveform. It is determined whether or not it is (step S2004). When the volume control level is "0", the CPU 202 executes a waveform read-out stop process for stopping the waveform read-out operation of the waveform read-out device 304 (step S2006). On the other hand, when the volume control level is not "0", the CPU 202 does not stop the waveform reading operation of the waveform reading device 304 and maintains the current state. The CPU 202 executes a loop process (steps S2002, S2008) in which the above series of processing operations (steps S2004 to S2006) are repeated for the number of waveform reading devices 304 that are reading the waveform data.

(Waveform read stop processing)
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a waveform reading stop processing of the waveform reading device applied to the sound source periodic processing of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment.

In the waveform reading stop processing of the waveform reading device executed in the sound source periodic processing, the CPU 202 first sets the value of the ring flag of the waveform buffer corresponding to the waveform reading device 304 to "1" as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not it is (step S2102). When the value of the ring flag is "1", the CPU 202 decrements the value of the accessing count of the waveform buffer corresponding to the link buffer number (step S2104), and then sets the link buffer number to its own waveform buffer. While setting the number (step S1006), the link flag is set to "0" (step S1008). After that, the CPU 202 stops the waveform reading operation of the waveform reading device 304 (step S1010). On the other hand, when the value of the ring flag is "0" in step S2102, the CPU 202 does not update its own waveform buffer number, and maintains the current setting of the waveform reading device 304. The waveform reading operation is stopped (step S1010).

As described above, in the present embodiment, a large-capacity storage composed of a sound source memory composed of RAM 208 used by the sound source LSI 204 when generating music and a large-capacity flash memory 212 such as a NAND type for storing all waveform data used for sound color. It is equipped with a device, and it takes time to transfer from the large-capacity storage device to the sound source memory. Waveform data with a large data size is always placed in the sound source memory, and waveform data with a relatively small data size is stored from the large-capacity storage device at the time of sounding. The data is transferred to each waveform buffer of the sound source memory prepared for each sound generator (waveform reading device 304) and then sounded. Here, among the waveform data to be read out for sound generation, the waveform data is transferred prior to the process of transferring the waveform data having a relatively small data size from the large-capacity storage device to each waveform buffer of the sound source memory. If it already exists in any of the waveform buffers in the sound source memory, set the waveform buffer that saves the waveform data as the link destination based on the management information that manages the usage status of the waveform buffer, and that waveform data. Is diverted in the sound source memory and read directly from the sound source memory to produce sound.

Further, when transferring waveform data from a large-capacity storage device to a sound source memory, a waveform that is not used by the sound generator or is used infrequently based on the management information that manages the usage state of the waveform buffer described above. The buffer is preferentially selected and the waveform data is overwritten and saved. Furthermore, when assigning a pronunciation generator when a key is pressed by a performance, priority is given to the pronunciation generator in a predetermined usage state, such as when the pronunciation is stopped and the frequency of use is low, based on the history information that manages the usage history of the pronunciation generator. The waveform read operation is executed.

As a result, waveform data with a large data size can be read directly from a sound source memory with a high access speed, and waveform data with a small data size can be diverted directly in the sound source memory and read directly, or read from an inexpensive large-capacity storage device. It can be used for music generation processing. In addition, even when multiple musical tones are simultaneously produced using multiple sound generators, management of multiple waveform data stored in a high-speed, low-capacity sound source memory and management of a sound generator that produces each waveform data can be performed. It can be done efficiently. Therefore, with a configuration that suppresses product costs, it is possible to more effectively shorten the time required for the generation process of musical tones using multiple waveform data, and to realize good performance without delay or interruption in the generation of musical tones. it can. In other words, this means that a larger number of timbre waveform data can be read out and sounded at the same time within a predetermined time required for the musical sound generation process, and thus, depending on the characteristics of the original sound of a wind instrument, a stringed instrument, or the like. It is possible to realize an electronic musical instrument that can reproduce close musical sounds.

<Modification example>
Next, a modified example of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a waveform reading device buffer allocation process applied to a modified example of the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment. Here, the processing operations equivalent to those of the above-described embodiments (FIGS. 18 and 19) are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, as a method of diverting the waveform data on the RAM 208, a read operation for sounding is performed prior to the process of transferring the waveform data whose data size is equal to or less than the threshold value from the large-capacity flash memory 212 to the RAM 208. Investigate whether the waveform data of interest already exists in other waveform buffers of RAM 208, and if so, link to that waveform buffer based on management information that manages multiple waveform buffers. The case where the waveform data stored in the RAM 208 is diverted in the RAM 208 and the waveform data of the linked waveform buffer is directly read by the waveform reading device 304 has been described.

In this modification, as a method of diverting the waveform data on the RAM described above, the waveform buffer already storing the waveform data is transferred to the waveform buffer allocated for the waveform read operation based on the management information. It has a method of reading out waveform data after copying and transferring it. Here, in this modification, as management information, instead of the information related to the link destination setting and the usage state of the waveform buffer shown in the above-described embodiment, the waveform buffer and the waveform read-out for storing the waveform data to be diverted. It has information about copy transfer of waveform data in RAM 208 to and from the waveform buffer allocated for operation. The management information in this case is also sequentially updated according to the storage state and copy transfer state of the waveform data in each waveform buffer.

In the control method of the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present modification, among the series of processing operations shown in the above-described embodiment, particularly in the waveform reading device buffer allocation processing (FIGS. 18 and 19), the following The process is executed. That is, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 22, the CPU 202 compares whether or not the tone color number and the waveform number of the musical sound instructed in the performance match the information of the waveform data stored in each waveform buffer of the RAM 208. (Steps S1818 and S1820), and if both the tone color number and the waveform number match, the waveform data of the matched waveform buffer is copied and transferred to its own waveform buffer assigned for the waveform read operation (step). S1840). Next, the CPU 202 sets the tone color number, the intra-tone waveform number, and the waveform size in the tone color waveform directory along with the copy transfer of the waveform data (step S1832), and confirms the transfer state of the waveform data (step S1834). ), When the transfer of the waveform data is completed, "1" is set in the transferred flag (step S1836). After that, the CPU 202 starts reading the waveform from the beginning of the waveform buffer allocated for the waveform reading operation (step S1838).

Even in such a modification, the waveform data having a large data size can be read directly from the sound source memory having a high access speed, and the waveform data having a small data size can be copied and transferred in the sound source memory to be read, or can be inexpensive. It can be read from a capacitive storage device and used for music generation processing. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, the time required for the music sound generation process using the plurality of waveform data can be more effectively shortened by the configuration in which the product cost is suppressed, and the music sound generation is not delayed or interrupted. Good performance can be achieved.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
The inventions described in the claims of the original application of the present application are described below.

(Additional note)
[1]
A first storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data,
A plurality of pronunciation control means capable of producing a sound by reading waveform data from the selected storage area of the first storage means, respectively.
When the pronunciation is instructed, the pronunciation control means and the storage area used for the instructed pronunciation are based on the reading status of the waveform data from each of the storage areas by each of the pronunciation control means. Control means to determine the combination and
A musical tone generator characterized by being equipped with.

[2]
The control means
When the pronunciation is instructed, the storage area to be used for the instructed pronunciation is selected based on the number of the pronunciation control means reading the waveform data stored in each of the storage areas.
The musical tone generator according to [1].

[3]
The control means
When the pronunciation is instructed, the designated pronunciation of the storage area in which the number of the sound control means reading the waveform data stored in each of the storage areas is smaller than that of the other storage areas. Selected as the storage area used in
The musical tone generator according to [2].

[4]
The control means
The plurality of storage areas and the plurality of pronunciation control means are managed in a one-to-one relationship.
When the pronunciation is instructed, the pronunciation control means corresponding to the storage area in which the number of the sound control means reading the waveform data stored in each of the storage areas is smaller than that of the other storage areas. Is selected as the pronunciation control means used for the indicated pronunciation.
The musical tone generator according to [2] or [3].

[5]
The control means
When the pronunciation is instructed, the pronunciation control means that is not being pronounced is selected from the plurality of pronunciation control means as the pronunciation control means used for the instructed pronunciation.
The musical tone generator according to any one of [2] to [4].

[6]
A second storage means for storing the plurality of the waveform data to be transferred to the first storage means is further provided.
The control means
When the pronunciation is instructed, if the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the first storage means, the waveform data stored in the first storage means is stored in the first storage means. When the waveform data read by the selected pronunciation control means and the pronunciation is instructed is not stored in the first storage means, the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation is stored in the second storage. After transferring from the means to the determined storage area of the first storage means, the transferred and stored waveform data is read by the determined sound control means.
The musical tone generator according to any one of [1] to [5].

[7]
The control means does not store the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation in the storage area of the first storage means associated with the selected pronunciation control means, and the selected pronunciation. When the storage area associated with the pronunciation control means other than the control means is stored, the storage area associated with the other pronunciation control means is stored in the selected pronunciation control means. The waveform data stored in the storage area associated with the other pronunciation control means is directly read out by the selected pronunciation control means and pronounced. 6] The music sound generator according to.

[8]
The control means does not store the waveform data used for the instructed pronunciation in the storage area of the first storage means associated with the selected pronunciation control means, and the selected pronunciation. When stored in the storage area associated with the pronunciation control means other than the control means, the waveform data stored in the storage area associated with the other pronunciation control means is stored. The copy is transferred to the storage area associated with the selected pronunciation control means, and the copy-transferred waveform data is read out by the selected pronunciation control means to be pronounced [6]. The music sound generator described in.

[9]
When the control means transfers the waveform data for which the sound is instructed from the second storage means to the first storage means, the control means of the plurality of storage areas of the first storage means. Select the storage area in which the waveform data stored from any of the sound control means is not used, or the storage area in which the number of the sound control means using the waveform data is small. The music sound generator according to [6], wherein the transferred waveform data is stored.

[10]
The first storage means is designated as a first storage area for fixedly storing the waveform data satisfying a predetermined condition prior to the start of the performance accompanied by the sound, and during the performance. The music sound generation according to any one of [1] to [9], which has a second storage area for variably storing the waveform data transferred from the second storage means. apparatus.

[11]
The first storage means is a storage device having a first read speed and a first storage capacity.
The second storage means is a storage device having a second read speed slower than the first read speed and a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity. The musical sound generator according to any one of [1] to [10].

[12]
A first storage means having a plurality of storage areas for reading and storing waveform data, and a plurality of sound control that can be made to sound by reading waveform data from the selected storage areas of the first storage means, respectively. A musical tone generating method applied to a musical tone generating apparatus comprising means and means.
When the pronunciation is instructed, the pronunciation control means and the storage area used for the instructed pronunciation are based on the reading status of the waveform data from each of the storage areas by each of the pronunciation control means. Determine the combination,
A musical tone generation method characterized by this.

[13]
A musical tone generation program for causing a computer to function as the musical tone generation device according to any one of claims [1] to [11], or for causing a computer to execute the musical tone generation method according to [12].

[14]
The musical tone generator according to any one of [1] to [12],
An input means for designating the waveform data by playing with the pronunciation, and
An output means for outputting the pronounced musical tone and
An electronic musical instrument characterized by being equipped with.

100 Electronic keyboard instrument (electronic musical instrument)
102 keyboard (input means)
104 Tone selection button (input means)
202 CPU (control means)
204 Sound source LSI (pronunciation control means)
208 RAM (second storage means)
212 Large-capacity flash memory (first storage means)
304 Waveform reader (pronunciation control means)

Claims (8)

A first storage means having a first read speed and a first storage capacity and storing waveform data corresponding to each of a plurality of tones.
It has a second read speed that is faster than the first read speed and has a second storage capacity that is smaller than the first storage capacity, and the waveform data read from the first storage means is used as a timbre. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas for storing information in association with each other,
A waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other.
When the waveform data corresponding to the specified timbre is stored in any of the storage areas of the plurality of storage areas when the sound with the specified timbre is instructed, the storage area is one of the above. Is read into a shape reading device associated with any of the storage areas, and when the waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, any waveform is used. The first storage means stores waveform data corresponding to the specified tone in either a storage area in which the reading device is not reading or a storage area in which the number of reading waveform reading devices is smaller than that of the other storage areas. A control means for transferring from and reading the transferred storage area into a waveform reader associated with the transferred storage area.
A musical tone generator equipped with. When the control means transfers the waveform data corresponding to the designated timbre from the first storage means to the first storage area in the second storage means, the designated timbre Information is stored in association with the first storage area.
The musical sound generator according to claim 1. A first storage means having a first read speed and a first storage capacity and storing a plurality of waveform data,
It has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity, and stores waveform data read from the first storage means. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas,
A waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other.
When the waveform data used for sounding is stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the shape reading device associated with the storage area may be used for the storage area. When the waveform data to be read and used for sounding is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the storage area not read by any of the waveform readers and the number of waveform readers being read are stored in the other. The waveform data used for sounding is transferred from the first storage means to one of the storage areas smaller than the area, and the transferred storage area is read into the waveform reading device associated with the transferred storage area. Control means to make
With
Said control means, said plurality of storage areas and a plurality of waveform readout device, to manage in association with one-to-one relationship, the musical tone generating apparatus. A first storage means having a first read speed and a first storage capacity and storing a plurality of waveform data,
It has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity, and stores waveform data read from the first storage means. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas,
A waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other.
When the waveform data used for sounding is stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the shape reading device associated with the storage area may be used for the storage area. When the waveform data to be read and used for sounding is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the storage area not read by any of the waveform readers and the number of waveform readers being read are stored in the other. The waveform data used for sounding is transferred from the first storage means to one of the storage areas smaller than the area, and the transferred storage area is read into the waveform reading device associated with the transferred storage area. Control means to make
With
Wherein, when the sound is instructed, the waveform readout device not being sounded from the plurality of waveform readout device, select the waveform readout device used for the indicated sound, tone generation apparatus .. A first storage means having a first read speed and a first storage capacity and storing a plurality of waveform data,
It has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity, and stores waveform data read from the first storage means. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas,
A waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other.
When the waveform data used for sounding is stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the shape reading device associated with the storage area may be used for the storage area. When the waveform data to be read and used for sounding is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the storage area not read by any of the waveform readers and the number of waveform readers being read are stored in the other. The waveform data used for sounding is transferred from the first storage means to one of the storage areas smaller than the area, and the transferred storage area is read into the waveform reading device associated with the transferred storage area. Control means to make
With
The second storage means has a fixed storage area for fixedly storing waveform data satisfying a predetermined condition prior to the start of a performance accompanied by sound, and the first storage unit designated during the performance. It has a variable storage area for variably storing waveform data transferred from the means, and has.
When the waveform data used for sounding is not stored in the second storage means, the control means transfers the waveform data used for sounding from the first storage means to the variable storage area of the second storage means. to forward, the musical tone generating apparatus. The device is
Waveform data is read from a first storage means that has a first read speed and a first storage capacity and stores waveform data corresponding to each of a plurality of tones.
The waveform data read from the first storage means has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity. The waveform data read from the first storage means is stored in a second storage means having a plurality of storage areas for storing the waveform data in association with the tone color information.
A storage area of any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with any of the waveform readers of the plurality of waveform readers.
When the waveform data corresponding to the specified timbre is stored in any of the storage areas of the plurality of storage areas when the sound with the specified timbre is instructed, the storage area is one of the above. Is read into a waveform reading device associated with any of the storage areas, and when the waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, any waveform is used. The first storage means stores waveform data corresponding to the specified tone in either a storage area in which the reading device is not reading or a storage area in which the number of reading waveform reading devices is smaller than that of the other storage areas. The transferred storage area is read from the waveform reader associated with the transferred storage area.
Musical tone generation method. On the computer
Waveform data is read from a first storage means that has a first read speed and a first storage capacity and stores waveform data corresponding to each of a plurality of tones.
The waveform data read from the first storage means has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity. The waveform data read from the first storage means is stored in a second storage means having a plurality of storage areas for storing the waveform data in association with the tone color information.
A storage area of any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with any of the waveform readers of the plurality of waveform readers.
When the waveform data corresponding to the specified timbre is stored in any of the storage areas of the plurality of storage areas when the sound with the specified timbre is instructed, the storage area is one of the above. Is read into a waveform reading device associated with any of the storage areas, and when the waveform data corresponding to the specified tone color is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, any waveform is used. The first storage means stores waveform data corresponding to the specified tone in either a storage area in which the reading device is not reading or a storage area in which the number of reading waveform reading devices is smaller than that of the other storage areas. The transferred storage area is read from the waveform reader associated with the transferred storage area.
A musical tone generation program for executing processing. A first storage means having a first read speed and a first storage capacity and storing a plurality of waveform data,
It has a second read speed faster than the first read speed and a second storage capacity smaller than the first storage capacity, and stores waveform data read from the first storage means. A second storage means having a plurality of storage areas,
A waveform generator having a plurality of waveform readers to which any of the plurality of storage areas is variably associated with each other.
Waveform selection means for selecting waveform data used for sounding musical tones specified by user operation, and
When the waveform data selected by the waveform selection means is stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the storage area is associated with the storage area. When the waveform data selected by the waveform selection means is not stored in any of the plurality of storage areas, the storage area that is not read by any of the waveform readers and the storage area that is read are read. The waveform data selected by the waveform selection means is transferred from the first storage means to any of the storage areas in which the number of waveform readers is smaller than that of the other storage areas, and the transferred storage area is transferred to the storage area. A control means for reading into a waveform reader associated with the transferred storage area, and
An output means that outputs the musical sound generated by the waveform generator,
Electronic musical instrument equipped with.

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