PERFORMANCE APPARATUS AND TONE GENERATION METHOD

Abstract

Plural key switches are arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, and an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with tone generation timing while a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches is associated with a tone pitch. Storage section stores a music piece data set that includes tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches. In a repeat-section setting mode, a repeat-section setting section causes the plural key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches. In reproduction of the stored music piece data set, a reproduction section repetitively reproduces the tone generating data of the music piece data set which are included in the set repeat section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the object and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a performance apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a key switch group and light-emitting display elements of the performance apparatus as viewed from the front (user side) of the performance apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example electrical setup of the performance apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a repeated reproduction process performed in the performance apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a repeat point setting process performed in the performance apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams explanatory of how a repeat point is set;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing images of musical scores of music pieces performed in a case where the settings of FIGS. 6A and 6B are implemented;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an operational sequence of a repeat point setting process for setting two, i.e. front and rear, repeat points;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views explanatory of how two or front and rear repeat points are set;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of a musical score of a music piece performed in a case where the settings of FIGS. 9A and 9B are implemented;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of processing of an automatic performance mode that includes an interrupt process of a reproducible-tone-pitch-range setting mode;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are flow charts showing example operational sequences for setting a reproducible tone pitch range (i.e., reproducing musical scale with tone pitch limitation);

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams explanatory of how a reproducible tone pitch range is set;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams showing images of musical scores of music pieces performed in a case where the settings of FIGS. 13A and 13B are implemented;

FIGS. 15A-15C are diagrams showing music piece data sets of individual layers, belonging to a group, in a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing images of musical scores of music pieces performed in a case where the settings of FIGS. 15A to 15C are implemented;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing how a repeat section and reproducible tone pitch range of a music piece data set are set;

FIG. 18 is a diagrams showing images of musical scores of music pieces performed in a case where different repeat section settings are implemented; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an image of a music piece performed in a conventionally-known performance apparatus in response to selection of key switches by a human operator or user.

Claims

1. A performance apparatus comprising: a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with tone generation timing, a Y-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with a tone pitch;a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches;a repeat-section setting section that, in a repeat-section setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches; anda reproduction section that reproduces the music piece data set stored in said storage section, said reproduction section repetitively reproducing the tone generating data of the music piece data set included in the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting section.

2. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a music-piece-data formation section that detects operation of the plurality of key switches and form a music piece data set by combining tone generating data, having data of tone pitches and tone generating timing associated with the operated key switches, in order said key switches have been operated, and wherein the music piece data set formed by said music-piece-data formation section is stored into said storage section.

3. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein an X-coordinate position of a start point of the repeat section is set in advance, and said repeat-section setting section determines an end point of the repeat section in accordance with the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch and sets, as the repeat section, a section between the start and end points.

4. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein an X-coordinate position of an end point of the repeat section is set in advance, and said repeat-section setting section determines a start point of the repeat section in accordance with the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch and sets, as the repeat section, a section between the start and end points.

5. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein, when two or more of the key switches have been sequentially operated, said repeat-section setting section determines, as the end point, the X-coordinate position of a last-operated key switch of the two or more key switches.

6. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein, when two or more of the key switches have been sequentially operated, said repeat-section setting section determines, as the start point, the X-coordinate position of a last-operated key switch of the two or more key switches.

7. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said repeat-section setting section determines each of the end and start points of the repeat section in accordance with the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch and sets, as the repeat section, a section between the start and end points.

8. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, when two or more of the key switches have been sequentially operated in a predetermined X-axial direction, said repeat-section setting section determines, as the start point, the X-coordinate position of a last-operated key switch of the two or more key switches, and when two or more of the key switches have been sequentially operated in a direction opposite the predetermined X-axial direction, said repeat-section setting section determines, as the end point, the X-coordinate position of a last-operated key switch of the two or more key switches.

9. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said repeat-section setting section includes a mode selection operator operable to select a repeat-point setting mode, so that said performance apparatus is brought to the repeat-point setting mode in response to operation of the mode selection operator.

10. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein a mode where one of the start and end points of the repeat section is determined in accordance with the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch and a mode where both of the start and end points of the repeat section are determined in accordance with the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch are distinguished from each other in accordance with a particular manner in which said mode selection operator has been operated.

11. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when said reproduction section is reproducing the music piece data set, said repeat-section setting section sets in real time the repeat section.

12. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises: a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in correspondence with two-dimensional arrangement of said plurality of key switches; anda light emission control section that controls light emission of the light emitting element corresponding to the key switch corresponding to at least one of the start and end points of the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting section.

13. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a tone-pitch-range setting section that, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches, and wherein said reproduction section generates, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section.

14. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein one of upper and lower limits of the reproducible tone pitch range is set in advance, and said tone-pitch-range setting section sets other of the upper and lower limits on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

15. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said tone-pitch-range setting section sets each of the upper and lower limits of the reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

16. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage section stores a plurality of music piece data sets in a grouped format, each of one or more music piece data sets grouped into a group being assigned a layer, which further comprises a music-piece-data-set selection section that, in a layer selection mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as layer selecting operators and selects one of the layers, on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, to thereby select, from among the one or more music piece data sets within the group, one music piece data set having the selected layer assigned thereto, andwherein said repeat-section setting section sets a repeat section of the music piece data set of the layer, selected by said music-piece-data-set selection section, on the basis of the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

17. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said repeat-section setting section prestores the repeat section of the music piece data set having been set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch, and said reproduction section simultaneously reproduces the music piece data sets of individual layers in accordance with the repeat sections set by said repeat-section setting section and stored independently for the individual layers.

18. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 16 which further comprises a tone-pitch-range setting section that, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches, and said reproduction generates, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section.

19. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said tone-pitch-range setting section prestores the reproducible tone pitch range of the music piece data set having been set on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of the operated key switch, and said reproduction section simultaneously reproduces the music piece data sets of the individual layers in accordance with the reproducible tone pitch ranges set by said tone-pitch-range setting section and stored independently for the individual layers.

20. A method for generating a tone under control of a computer in a performance apparatus which includes: a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with tone generation timing, a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with a tone pitch; a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches; and the computer, said method comprising: a repeat-section setting step of, in a repeat-section setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches; anda reproduction step of reproducing the music piece data set stored in the storage section, said reproduction step repetitively reproducing the tone generating data of the music piece data set included in the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting step.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 which further comprises a tone-pitch-range setting step of, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, and wherein said reproduction step reproduces, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the storage section stores a plurality of music piece data sets in a grouped format, each of one or more music piece data sets grouped into a group being assigned a layer, which further comprises a music-piece-data-set selection step of, in a layer selection mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as layer selecting operators and selecting any one of the layers, on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, to thereby select, from among the one or more music piece data sets within the group, one music piece data set having the selected layer assigned thereto, andwherein said repeat-section setting step sets a repeat section of the music piece data set of the layer, selected by said music-piece-data-set selection step, on the basis of the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

23. A computer-readable storage medium containing a group of instructions for causing a computer of a performance apparatus to perform a tone generation procedure, the performance apparatus including: a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with tone generation timing, a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with a tone pitch; and a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches, said tone generation procedure comprising: a repeat-section setting step of, in a repeat-section setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a repeat section of the music piece data set on the basis of the X-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches; anda reproduction step of reproducing the music piece data set stored in the storage section, said reproduction step repetitively reproducing the tone generating data of the music piece data set included in the repeat section set by said repeat-section setting step.

24. A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 23 which further comprises a tone-pitch-range setting step of, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, and wherein said reproduction step reproduces, from among the tone generating data to be repetitively reproduced, only tone generating data having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step.

25. A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 23 wherein the storage section stores a plurality of music piece data sets in a grouped format, each of one or more music piece data sets grouped into a group being assigned a layer, which further comprises a music-piece-data-set selection step of, in a layer selection mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as layer selecting operators and selecting any one of the layers, on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, to thereby select, from among the one or more music piece data sets within the group, one music piece data set having the selected layer assigned thereto, andwherein said repeat-section setting step sets a repeat section of the music piece data set of the layer, selected by said music-piece-data-set selection step, on the basis of the X-coordinate position of the operated key switch.

26. A performance apparatus comprising: a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with tone generation timing, a Y-coordinate position of each of said key switches being associated with a tone pitch;a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with said key switches;a tone-pitch-range setting section that, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and sets a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of said key switches; anda reproduction section that reproduces the music piece data set stored in said storage section, said reproduction section generating only the tone generating data, included in the music piece data set, having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting section.

27. A performance apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said storage section stores a plurality of music piece data sets in a grouped format, each of one or more music piece data sets grouped into a group being assigned a layer, which further comprises a music-piece-data-set selection section that, in a layer selection mode, causes the plurality of key switches to function as layer selecting operators and selects one of the layers, on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches, to thereby select, from among the one or more music piece data sets within the group, one music piece data set having the selected layer assigned thereto, andwherein said tone-pitch-range setting section sets a reproducible tone pitch range of the music piece data set of the layer selected by said music-piece-data-set selection section.

28. A method for generating a tone under control of a computer in a performance apparatus which includes: a plurality of key switches arranged in two dimensions along X- and Y-coordinate axes, an X-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with tone generation timing, a Y-coordinate position of each of the key switches being associated with a tone pitch; a storage section that stores a music piece data set comprising tone generating data having data of tone pitches and tone generation timing associated with the key switches; and the computer, said method comprising: a tone-pitch-range setting step of, in a tone-pitch-range setting mode, causing the plurality of key switches to function as setting operators and setting a reproducible tone pitch range on the basis of the Y-coordinate position of any operated one of the key switches; anda reproduction step of reproducing the music piece data set stored in the storage section, said reproduction step generating only the tone generating data, included in the music piece data set, having tone pitches within the reproducible tone pitch range set by said tone-pitch-range setting step.