JP3290918B2 - Karaoke device with singing scoring function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly, to a karaoke apparatus having a singing scoring function for scoring the singing status of a singer and outputting the result to a display or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an additional function in a karaoke apparatus for reproducing specified music information and outputting accompaniment music of the music from a speaker, the singing situation of a singer is scored, and the score is displayed on a display as a result of the scoring. There is a song scoring function. This singing scoring function sets a predetermined time zone such as one bar as one scoring section in the music reproduction process, and compares a singer's voice signal input from a microphone with reference information such as main melody of accompaniment music for each section. I do. Then, the final scored result is created by summing up the comparison results for each scored section from the start to the end of the playback of the accompaniment music and appropriately processing such as calculating the average.

[0003]

Conventionally, in order to operate the singing and scoring function, it is necessary for the user to input a start instruction in advance prior to the music reproduction operation. And, regardless of the state of the singing, the scoring result is always announced. However, when you think that you couldn't sing well, you don't want to show the score.
On the other hand, sometimes you may wish to activate the singing scoring function when you sing better than expected.
Furthermore, the singing state of a general singer is not constant throughout one song, and there are many cases where a part that can be sung well and a part that cannot be sung are mixed. There is a demand for a singer who wants to know the scoring result for each part of the music, such as which part has a higher or lower score. Alternatively, there is a desire to display only the results of singing that have been successfully sung. A conventional karaoke apparatus with a singing score function cannot meet these requirements at all.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a flexible singing in which a section for displaying a score result can be freely set in a music reproducing process, and a display / non-display of a score result can be freely selected. An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus having a scoring function.

[0005]

A karaoke apparatus with a singing score function according to the present invention is a karaoke apparatus which reproduces specified music information and outputs accompaniment music of the music from a speaker, and sings along with the accompaniment music. Scoring means for sampling a singing signal of a person from a microphone, and sequentially generating a scoring signal by comparing scoring reference information attached to the music information with the sampling information according to a prescribed algorithm; and reproducing the music. User interface input means for specifying a scoring section in the process, and scoring result display means for outputting a scoring result to a display based on a scoring signal output by the scoring means in the scoring section specified by the user interface input means. It is characterized by having.

In the karaoke apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the user interface input means instructs the start and end of a scoring section during the reproduction of the music. Further, the user interface input means can designate a plurality of grading sections in the process of reproducing one music, and the grading result display means outputs the grading results in the plurality of grading sections to the display respectively. The following configuration can be adopted.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The central control unit 11 is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM therein,
The karaoke apparatus 1 is controlled by controlling the peripheral components. The hard disk device 12 stores karaoke data obtained by encoding accompaniment music and lyrics images of the karaoke music. The basic operation of the karaoke apparatus 1 is performed through the following route.

[0008] When the central control unit 11 receives a music selection input from the remote control transmitter 40 or the operation panel 13 via the operation control unit 15, it reads out the karaoke data of the requested music from the hard disk device 12. At the same time, the video CD changer 22 is controlled so as to reproduce a video CD containing an appropriate background video. Accompaniment music data such as MIDI data included in the karaoke data is sequentially transferred to the synthesizer 18, where the accompaniment music is reproduced. The reproduced accompaniment music is combined with the singing signal of the singer input from the microphone 21 by the mixing amplifier 19 and output from the speaker 20.

On the other hand, the lyrics image data has a video RA inside.
M is transferred to the display control unit 16 including M. Display control unit 16
Expands the bitmap data of the lyric image in the video RAM, superimposes the background image output from the video CD changer 22 on the display 17 while synchronizing the character string of the lyric with the progress of the accompaniment music. In addition to the basic functions described above, the karaoke apparatus 1 is provided with a singing scoring function for scoring the singing situation of a singer and displaying the scoring result on a display as a score.
Next, the singing scoring function will be described.

The central control unit 11 is connected to a scoring device 30, which is a main component of the singing scoring function, and a charging device 50 for charging a predetermined fee when using the scoring device. The central control unit 11 operates the scoring device 30 and the billing device 50 in conjunction with the start of the reproduction of the karaoke music. Then, information serving as a reference for scoring is extracted from the karaoke data such as the main melody part in the MIDI data and input to the scoring device 30. The scoring device 30 sequentially generates a scoring signal by sampling a singing signal input from the microphone 21 during the reproduction of the music, and comparing the sampled information with scoring reference information according to a predetermined algorithm. The central processing unit 11 sequentially inputs the scoring signals, performs predetermined processing, and associates the processing results with the time series to the hard disk device 12 or the internal RA.
M is stored as scoring information. Then, a scoring result for each section is created by reading the scoring information of an appropriate section in the time series. Further, the display control section 16 is controlled to output a score or the like as a result of the scoring to the display 17. In addition, it causes the charging device 50 to perform a predetermined procedure for charging in conjunction with the output of the scoring result.

FIG. 2 is a key arrangement diagram of the remote control transmitter 40 in the present embodiment. The operation of the user interface of the singing score function and the corresponding operation of the karaoke apparatus main body will be described with reference to FIG. The remote control transmitter 40 is provided with keys 41 to 44 for operating a singing scoring function, in addition to keys (numerical keys, transmission keys, and the like) used for normal music selection input and the like. Of course, these keys are similarly arranged on the operation panel of the karaoke apparatus main body.

When the identification number of the requested music is input using the numeric keypad using the remote control transmitter 40 and the input signal is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus main body, as described above,
The scoring device and the billing device operate together with the music playback operation. When the reproduction of the music starts, the singer carries the remote control transmitter 40 and starts singing. If there is a section to be graded during the singing, the "From here" key 41 is pressed at the beginning of the graded section. Then, to display the scoring result when the end point of the scoring section comes, the "display" key 42 is pressed. The karaoke apparatus main body displays the score on the display based on the scoring information corresponding to the scoring section. When the start of the scoring section is instructed, but the score is not to be displayed, for example, when the singing situation is unsatisfactory, the “from here” key 41 is pressed at the start of the next scoring section. As a result, the previous input of the "from here" key 41 is canceled. In this way, the singer specifies the scoring sections one after another and displays the score for each section. In addition,
When the "advice" key 44 is pressed instead of the "display" key 42 at the end of the scoring section, advice on the singing status such as the pitch of the reference is displayed.

When the reproduction of the music is completed, a list of the scoring results of the designated scoring section is displayed on the display. Also,
To display the score over the entire playback time of a song,
By pressing the "TAL" key 43, the average score during the playing time can be displayed. Note that a scoreboard that can display scores and a predetermined character string may be installed on the karaoke apparatus main body or the like, and scores and advice words may be displayed on the scoreboard. Instead of scoring the scoring result, an appropriate video expression (for example, animation of a scene passing or failing an audition) may be displayed as the scoring result.

On the other hand, the charging device performs a predetermined charging procedure when the score result is displayed during or after the reproduction of the music. This procedure may be performed by an appropriate method such as transferring information to the effect that charging has been made to a checkout terminal of a store, or inputting a predetermined charge into a charging device in advance, and refunding if charging is not performed. Good. Alternatively, only the specification of a scoring section may be accepted during music playback, and the scoring result may be displayed only when a fee is paid after the playback ends.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the user can freely designate a section to be scored in the music reproduction process, and furthermore, the result can be displayed only when he / she wants to know the scored result. For this reason, a low score is displayed and there is no discouragement. In addition, it is also possible to display only the high score and immerse yourself in it. If a plurality of scoring sections are designated, the singing power of each section can be known, so that the singing situation can be analyzed in detail. Therefore, it is also useful for improving the singing ability. If the output of the scoring result by the singing scoring function is linked to the charging means, no unnecessary charging is imposed on the user. As a result, users can use the singing and scoring function easily, and it is expected that karaoke operators will increase their profits.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a key arrangement diagram of a remote control transmitter in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke device 11 Central control unit 12 Hard disk device 17 Display 21 Microphone 30 Scoring device 40 Remote control transmitter 50 Billing device

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A karaoke apparatus for reproducing specified music information and outputting accompaniment music of the music from a speaker, wherein a singing signal of a person who sings along with the accompaniment music is sampled from a microphone, and the music information is attached to the singing signal. Scoring means for sequentially generating a scoring signal by comparing the scoring reference information and the sampling information according to a prescribed algorithm; a user interface input means for designating a scoring section in the music reproduction process; A scoring result display means for outputting a scoring result to a display based on a scoring signal output by the scoring means in a scoring section specified by a user interface input means, characterized by comprising: . 2. A karaoke apparatus with a singing and scoring function according to claim 1, wherein said user interface input means instructs the start and end of a scoring section during the reproduction of said music. 3. The scoring device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface input means can designate a plurality of scoring sections in a process of reproducing one music piece, and wherein the scoring result display means includes a plurality of scoring sections. A karaoke apparatus with a singing scoring function, wherein the scoring result is output to the display.