Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a technique for generating a sound signal.

In order to make a sound from an electronic piano as close as possible to a sound of an acoustic piano, various efforts have been made. For example, in order to better reflect an effect of a damper on a sound of an acoustic piano, <CIT> discloses a technique for controlling the decay speed of a sound when a damper pedal is operated.

<CIT> discloses a sound signal generation device which includes a memory storing instructions, and a processor that implements the instructions and execute a plurality of tasks, including a signal generation task that generates a sound signal based on first operation data corresponding to an operation to a key, and an attenuation control task that controls an attenuation velocity of the sound signal to one of a first velocity or a second velocity that is faster than the first velocity, based on the first operation data, and second operation data corresponding to an operation to a pedal, wherein the attenuation control task varies a value of the second velocity based on an operation velocity of the key included in the first operation data to control the attenuation velocity of the sound signal to the second velocity.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal generation device including a memory configured to store instructions, and a processor communicatively connected to the memory and configured to execute the stored instructions to function as: a signal generation unit configured to generate a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation; and a decay control unit configured to control a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position, wherein the decay control unit is further configured to control the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is present in a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position, wherein the decay control unit is further configured to control the decay speed to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a second range adjacent to the first range, and wherein a first boundary position between the first range and the second range is determined based on control information obtained by the key operation.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal generation method including generating a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation, and controlling a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position, wherein controlling the decay speed of the sound signal includes: determining a first boundary position between a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position and a second range adjacent to the first range based on control information obtained by the key operation; and controlling the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the first range, and to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the second range.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program for causing a computer to execute operations including generating a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation, and controlling a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position, wherein controlling the decay speed of the sound signal includes, determining a first boundary position between a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position and a second range adjacent to the first range based on control information obtained by the key operation; and controlling the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the first range; and to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the second range.

The decay of a sound generated in an electronic instrument is controlled according to a position of a damper pedal. In the case of an electronic piano, this decay is controlled by assuming that a damper is away from a string (damper-on) or the damper is in contact with the string (damper-off). The decay may be controlled by assuming that the damper is slightly in contact with the string (half-pedal). The control corresponding to each state is executed corresponding to a plurality of setting ranges determined by dividing an operable range of the damper pedal in advance. The plurality of setting ranges does not change from a predetermined setting range regardless of a state of performance.

According to the present disclosure, a position when changing the decay control by an operation of the damper pedal can be adjusted according to a state of performance.

Hereinafter, a keyboard instrument according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to these embodiments. Also, in the drawings referred to in the present embodiments, the same portions or portions having similar functions are denoted by the same symbols or similar symbols (signs each formed simply by adding A, B, etc. to the end of a number), and a repetitive description thereof may be omitted.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a configuration of a keyboard instrument according to an embodiment. The keyboard instrument <NUM> is, for example, an electronic keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano, and is an example of an electronic instrument having a plurality of keys <NUM> as a performance operating element. When a user operates the key <NUM>, a sound is generated from speakers <NUM>. The type of sound (timbre) to be generated is changed by using an operation unit <NUM>. In this example, the keyboard instrument <NUM> can generate a sound close to an acoustic piano when generating a sound using the timbre of a piano. Especially, the keyboard instrument <NUM> can generate a sound reflecting an effect of the damper more accurately in a performance using the damper pedal. Next, each configuration of the keyboard instrument <NUM> will be described in detail.

The keyboard instrument <NUM> includes the plurality of keys <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, and a pedal device <NUM>. The plurality of keys <NUM> is rotatably supported by the housing <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, and the speakers <NUM> are arranged on the housing <NUM>. A control unit <NUM>, a memory unit <NUM>, a key operation measurement unit <NUM>, and a sound source unit <NUM> are arranged inside the housing <NUM>. The pedal device <NUM> includes a damper pedal <NUM>, a shift pedal <NUM>, and a pedal operation measurement unit <NUM>. Each of the units arranged inside the housing <NUM> are connected via a bus.

In this example, the keyboard instrument <NUM> includes an interface for inputting and outputting a signal to and from an external device. The interface is, for example, a terminal for outputting a sound signal, a cable connecting terminal for transmitting and receiving MIDI data, or the like. In this example, the pedal device <NUM> is connected to the interface so that the pedal operation measurement unit <NUM> is connected to each of the units arranged inside the housing <NUM> via the bus described above.

The control unit <NUM> includes a calculation processing circuit, such as a CPU, and a memory device, such as a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The control unit <NUM> executes a control program using a CPU to realize various functions in the keyboard instrument <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> is a device such as an operation button, a touch sensor, and a slider, and outputs a signal corresponding to the input operation to the control unit <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> displays a screen based on the control by the control unit <NUM>.

The memory unit <NUM> is a memory device such as nonvolatile memory. The memory unit <NUM> stores a control program executed by the control unit <NUM>. The memory unit <NUM> may store parameters, waveforms, etc. used in the sound source unit <NUM>. Each of the speakers <NUM> amplifies and outputs a sound signal output from the control unit <NUM> or the sound source unit <NUM> to generate a sound corresponding to the sound signal.

The key operation measurement unit <NUM> measures the operation of each of the plurality of keys <NUM>, and outputs measurement data indicating a measurement result. The measurement data includes information (KC, KS, and KV). That is, the key operation measurement unit <NUM> outputs information (KC, KS, KV) in response to a pushing operation to each of the plurality of keys <NUM>. The information KC is information that identifies the operated key <NUM> (e.g., a key number). The information KS is information indicating a pushing amount of the key <NUM>. The information KV is information indicating a pushing speed of the key <NUM>. By outputting the information KC, KS, and KV in association with each other, the operated key <NUM> and the operation content with respect to the key <NUM> are identified by the measurement data output from the key operation measurement unit <NUM>.

The pedal operation measurement unit <NUM> measures each operation of the damper pedal <NUM> and the shift pedal <NUM>, and outputs measurement data indicating the measurement result. This measurement data includes information (PC, PS). The information PC is information indicating whether the operated pedal is the damper pedal <NUM> or the shift pedal <NUM>. The information PS is information indicating the pushing amount of the pedal. In the following description, the pushing amount of the pedal may be referred to as a pedal operation position. By outputting the information PC and PS in associated with each other, the operated pedal (the damper pedal <NUM> or the shift pedal <NUM>) and the operation content for the operated pedal (pushing amount) is identified by the measurement data output from the pedal operation measurement unit <NUM>. Also, if the pedal of the pedal device <NUM> is only the damper pedal <NUM>, there may be no information PC.

The sound source unit <NUM> generates a sound signal based on the measurement data input from the key operation measurement unit <NUM> and the pedal operation measurement unit <NUM> and outputs to the speakers <NUM>. The sound signal generated by the sound source unit <NUM> is obtained for each operation to the key <NUM>. Then, a plurality of sound signals obtained corresponding to a plurality of keypresses is synthesized and output from the sound source unit <NUM>. A configuration of the sound source unit <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a sound source unit according to an embodiment. The sound source unit <NUM> includes a conversion unit <NUM>, a sound signal generation unit (a signal generation device) <NUM>, a decay control table <NUM>, a waveform data memory unit <NUM> and an output unit <NUM>. The sound signal generation unit <NUM> includes a signal generation unit <NUM> and a decay control unit <NUM> and executes a signal generation method including a decay control processing.

The conversion unit <NUM> converts the input information (KC, KS, KV, PC, PS) into control data in a format used in the sound signal generation unit <NUM>. That is, information having different meanings is converted into control data in a common format. The control data is data for defining the content of the sound generation. In this example, the conversion unit <NUM> converts the input information into MIDI format control data. The conversion unit <NUM> outputs the generated control data to the sound signal generation unit <NUM> (the signal generation unit <NUM> and the decay control unit <NUM>).

The conversion unit <NUM> generates control data related to the operation to the key <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as key operation data) based on the information (KC, KS, KV) input from the key operation measurement unit <NUM>. In this example, the key operation data includes information indicating the position of the operated key <NUM> (note number), information indicating that the key was pressed (note-on), information indicating that the key was released (note-off), and an operation speed to the key <NUM>, that is, a keypress speed (velocity: <NUM> to <NUM> in this example). As described above, the conversion unit <NUM> also functions as a key operation data generation unit for generating the key operation data.

In addition, the conversion unit <NUM> generates control data associated with the operation of the damper pedal <NUM> (hereinafter, referred to as pedal operation data) based on the information (PC, PS) input from the pedal operation measurement unit <NUM>. The pedal operation data includes information indicating at least the pedal operation position.

The damper-on, damper-off, and half-damper used in the following description are defined as follows. The damper-on indicates a state in which the damper is perfectly away from the string in the acoustic piano. The damper-on not only corresponds to a state in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is at an end position (a state in which the damper is completely raised) but also to a state in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is included in a predetermined range including the end position (a range set in advance as being equivalent to that the end position). In the following description, the range of the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> serving as the damper-on may be referred to as a damper-on range.

The damper-off indicates a state in which the damper is completely lowered. The damper-off not corresponds to a state in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is in a rest position (a state in which the damper is completely lowered) but also to a state in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is included in a predetermined range including the rest position (a range set in advance as being equivalent to the reset state). In the following description, the range of the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> serving as the damper-off may be referred to as a damper-off range.

The half-damper includes information (half-damper) and the like indicating that the state is in an intermediate position (half-pedal) excluding the rest position and the end position. Also, the pedal is operable in the range from the rest position to the end position.

The half-damper corresponds to a state in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is included in the range sandwiched between the damper-off range and the damper-on range (a state of the half-pedal). In the following description, the range of the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> serving as the half-damper may be referred to as a half-damper range. The damper-off range is adjacent to the half-damper range. The half-damper range is adjacent to the damper-on range. The damper-on range (first range), the half-damper range (second range), and the damper-off range (third range) may be collectively referred to as a damper setting range.

As described above, the conversion unit <NUM> also functions as a pedal operation data generation unit for generating the pedal operation data. In addition, control data corresponding to the shift pedal <NUM> may also be generated, but the description thereof will be omitted here.

The conversion unit <NUM> outputs the generated control data to the sound signal generation unit <NUM> (the signal generation unit <NUM> and the decay control unit <NUM>). Specifically, the conversion unit <NUM> outputs the key operation data to the signal generation unit <NUM> and the decay control unit <NUM>, and outputs the pedal operation data to the decay control unit <NUM>.

The waveform data memory unit <NUM> stores at least piano sound waveform data. The piano sound waveform data is waveform data obtained by sampling an acoustic piano sound (sound generated by striking a string with a keypress).

The signal generation unit <NUM> generates and outputs a sound signal based on the key operation data input from the conversion unit <NUM>. At this time, the decay control unit <NUM> adjusts an envelope of the sound signal.

The decay control unit <NUM> refers to the decay control table <NUM> and controls the envelope of the sound signal generated in the signal generation unit <NUM> based on the key operation data and the pedal operation data input from the conversion unit <NUM>. In particular, the envelope when the sound signal is decayed is controlled. In this example, the decay control unit <NUM> refers to the decay control table <NUM> and determines the damper setting range based on the key operation data. The decay control unit <NUM> uses the determined damper setting range to control the decay speed based on the pedal operation data. The decay control table <NUM> is a table that defines a relationship between the note number and the damper setting range.

More specifically, the decay control unit <NUM> refers to the decay control table <NUM> to determine the damper setting range corresponding to the note number in the key operation data. The decay control unit <NUM> controls the decay speed in accordance with the damper setting range so as to correspond to the damper-on if the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> in the pedal operation data is in the damper-on range. Similarly, the decay control unit <NUM> controls the decay speed so as to correspond to the damper-off if the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the damper-off range and controls the decay speed so as to correspond to the half-damper if the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the half-damper range. The decay control table <NUM> is a table that defines the relationship between the note number and the damper setting range.

The output unit <NUM> outputs the sound signal generated by the signal generation unit <NUM> to the outside of the sound source unit <NUM>. In this example, a sound signal is output to the speakers <NUM> and listened to by the user. Next, a detailed configuration of the signal generation unit <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a signal generation unit according to an embodiment. The signal generation unit <NUM> includes a waveform reading unit <NUM> (waveform reading units <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,. <NUM>-n), an EV (envelope) waveform generation unit <NUM> (EV waveform generation units <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,. , <NUM>-n), a multiplier <NUM> (multipliers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,. <NUM>-n), and a waveform synthesis unit <NUM>. The above "n" corresponds to the number of sounds that can be sounded at the same time (the number of sound signals that can be generated at the same time) and is <NUM> in this example. That is, according to this signal generation unit <NUM>, the state of sounding <NUM> times of key depression is maintained, when a 33rd key depression occurs, the sound signal corresponding to the first sound generation is forcibly stopped.

The waveform reading unit <NUM>-<NUM> selects and reads out waveform data to be read out from the waveform data memory unit <NUM> based on the key operation data obtained from the conversion unit <NUM> and generates a sound signal having a pitch corresponding to the note number. In this example, the piano sound waveform data is read out. The EV waveform generation unit <NUM>-<NUM> generates an envelope waveform based on the key operation data obtained from the conversion unit <NUM> and a preset parameter. The generated envelope waveform is partially adjusted by the decay control unit <NUM>. A method of generating the envelope waveform and a method of adjusting the envelope waveform will be described later. The multiplier <NUM>-<NUM> multiplies the sound signal generated by the waveform reading unit <NUM>-<NUM> by the envelope waveform generated by the EV waveform generation unit <NUM>-<NUM>.

Although the case where n = <NUM> is exemplified, the key operation data corresponding to the key depression is applied in order of n = <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. every time the next key depression occurs while the sound signal is output from the multiplier <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, in the case of the next key depression, the key operation data is applied to the configuration of n = <NUM>, and the sound signal is output from the multiplier <NUM>-<NUM> in the same manner as described above. The waveform synthesis unit <NUM> synthesizes and outputs the sound signal output from the multipliers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,. , <NUM>-<NUM> to the output unit <NUM>.

The envelope waveform generated in the EV waveform generation unit <NUM> will be described. First, a general envelope waveform and parameter will be described.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a definition of a general envelope waveform. As shown in <FIG>, the envelope waveform is defined by a plurality of parameters. The plurality of parameters includes an attack level AL, an attack time AT, a decay time DT, a sustain level SL, and a release time RT. Also, the attack level AL may be fixed to a maximum value (e.g., <NUM>). In this case, the sustain level SL is set in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

When the note-on occurs, the waveform rises to the attack level AL in the time of the attack time AT. Thereafter, the waveform decreases to the sustain level SL in the time of the decay time DT and keeps the sustain level SL. When the note-off occurs, the waveform decreases from the sustain level SL to the mute state (level "<NUM>") in the time of the release time RT. If there is the note-off before reaching the sustain level SL, i.e., during the attack time AT and the decay time DT, the waveform reaches a mute state in the time of the release time RT from that point. Also, it may be reached the mute state with the decay factor in which the sustain level SL is divided by the release time RT.

A decay rate DR is a value that can be calculated from the above-mentioned parameters, and is obtained by dividing the difference between the attack level AL and the sustain level SL by the decay time DT. This parameter (the decay rate DR) indicates the degree of natural decay (decay speed) of a sound in a decay period after the note-on. Although an example that the decay speed of the decay rate DR in the decay period is constant (the slope is a straight line) has shown, the decay speed does not have to be constant. That is, the slope may be defined as a line other than a straight line by changing the decay speed in a predetermined manner.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of an envelope waveform of the piano sound. In a typical piano sound, for example, the sustain level SL is set to "<NUM>" and the decay time DT is set relatively long (the decay rate DR is small). This state indicates the state where the damper is away from the string (damper-on). If the note-off occurs in the decay time DT, the damper is in contact with the string (damper-off) and decays rapidly as shown by the dotted lines according to the setting of the release time RT. The EV waveform generation unit <NUM> in this example generates the envelope waveform shown in <FIG>, and the decay rate DR is adjusted by the decay control unit <NUM>. When the damper is on, the decay control unit <NUM> controls the decay rate DR (decay speed) to be slower than when the damper is off. When the damper is the half-damper, the decay control unit <NUM> controls the decay rate DR (decay speed) to be faster than when the damper is on, while it is slower than when the damper is off.

The decay coefficient K is used as one of the parameters for controlling the decay speed in this way. In this example, when the controlled decay rate is DRf, it is calculated as DRf = DR × K. That is, the larger the decay coefficient K, the faster the decay speed. In the damper-on state, the decay coefficient K is "<NUM>" and the DRf corresponding to the decay speed is the same as the decay rate DR. The decay coefficient K in the state of the half-damper is "Kh". "Kh" is a value larger than "<NUM>", and DRf corresponding to the decay speed is "DR × Kh". The decay speed in the state of the damper-off is a value larger than the decay speed "DR × Kh" in the state of the half-damper because it corresponds to the decay speed corresponding to the release time RT.

These parameters are described as setting values defining the envelope waveform, and each level such as the attack level AL is a relative value. Therefore, in the envelope waveform output from the EV waveform generation unit <NUM>, i.e., the envelope waveform multiplied by the sound signal in the multiplier <NUM>, the absolute value of the output level is adjusted according to the velocity. Also, adjustment of the output level may be realized by an amplifier circuit.

The decay control unit <NUM> determines the damper setting range corresponding to the note number by referring to the decay control table <NUM> as described above. That is, if the note numbers corresponding to the two sounds are different from each other, the damper setting range corresponding to the two sounds are also determined to be different from each other. Therefore, depending on the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM>, for example, the sound controlled by the damper-off and the sound controlled by the half-damper may generated at the same time.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the damper setting range and the note number defined in the decay control table according to an embodiment. A note number (NN) is shown on the horizontal axis. In this example, the horizontal axis is defined in the range from the note number "<NUM>" (corresponding to the pitch "C-<NUM>") to the note number "<NUM>" (corresponding to the pitch "G9"). The operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is shown on the vertical axis. In this example, the vertical axis is defined in a range in which the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> can be changed, that is, in a range from a rest position RP to an end position EP.

A boundary position HS indicates a boundary position (second boundary position) between a damper-off range Doff (third range) and a half-damper range Dh (second range). A boundary position HF indicates a boundary position (first boundary position) between the half-damper range Dh (second range) and a damper-on range Don (first range). In the example shown in <FIG>, the damper setting range is determined so that the larger the note number, that is, the higher the pitch, both the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF gradually become closer to the rest position RP. In other words, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF corresponding to the second pitch higher than the first pitch is closer to the rest position RP than the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF corresponding to the first pitch. In this example, the difference between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF, that is, the size of the half-damper range Dh, is constant regardless of the note number. The boundary position HS and the boundary position HF may be calculated by a predetermined arithmetic expression using the note number as a variable.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing a decay control processing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. When the note-on is detected based on the key operation data and the waveform data is read out (more particularly, when reached the decay period), the decay control processing is executed on a sound generated corresponding to each note-on. The sound to be subjected to the decay control processing may be referred to as a processing target sound. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, if the number that can be sounded at the same time is <NUM>, the decay control processing of <NUM> at maximum is executed in parallel.

First, the decay control unit <NUM> determines whether the note-off has been detected based on the key operation data from the previous determination to the present determination (step S101). In the case where the note-off corresponding to the processing target sound has not been detected (step S101; No), to cope with the key depressed state, the decay control unit <NUM> sets the decay coefficient K to "<NUM>" regardless of the damper pedal state (step S111). That is, the decay speed is set with the normal decay rate DRf (= DR × <NUM>). The decay control unit <NUM> executes a decay processing for unit time (step S121) and returns to step S101 to continue the processing. The unit time is a time corresponding to a predetermined processing unit, and corresponds to, for example, a processing time at one clock.

In the case where the note-off corresponding to the processing target sound is detected (step S101; Yes), the decay control unit <NUM> acquires a note number corresponding to the processing target sound (note number corresponding to note-off) and refers to the decay control table <NUM> to acquire the damper setting range corresponding to the note number (step S103). Subsequently, based on the damper setting range, the decay control unit <NUM> determines whether the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is included in the damper-on range Don, the half-damper range Dh, and the damper-off range Doff. In this example, the decay control unit <NUM> determines whether the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the damper-off range Doff and whether it is the half-damper range Dh (step S105, S107).

In the case where the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the damper-on range Don (step S105; No, step S107; No), to cope with the damper-on in a key-released state, the decay control unit <NUM> executes the processing of the step S111 and step S121 described above and returns to the step S101 to continue the processing.

In the case where the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the half-damper range Dh (step S105; No, step S107; Yes), to cope with the half-damper in the key-released state, the decay control unit <NUM> sets the decay coefficient K to "Kh" (step S113). The decay control unit <NUM> executes a decay processing for unit time with the decay rate DRf (DR × Kh) determined by the set decay coefficient K (step S121) and returns to the step S101 to continue the processing.

In the case where the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is the damper-off range Doff (step S105; Yes), to cope with the damper-off in the key-released state, the decay control unit <NUM> shifts to the release (step S123) and terminates the decay control processing. That is, the decay control unit <NUM> controls to switch from the decay speed with the decay rate DRf to the decay speed corresponding to the release period.

In an acoustic piano, the higher the pitch, the smaller the amplitude of the string tends to be. Therefore, when returning the damper pedal to the rest position from the end position, the lower the pitch and the larger the amplitude of the string, the easier it is for the damper to come into contact with the string. According to the decay control processing described above, the higher the note number (higher pitch), the closer the operation position from the damper-off to the half-damper and the operation position from the half-damper to the damper-on is to the rest position RP. As a result, since the operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> at the time of changing the decay control can be changed according to the state of the performance (the pitch of the key to be operated), a player can obtain a feeling close to the performance of the acoustic piano.

While an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure easily and are not necessarily limited to those including all the configurations described. In addition, other configurations can be added, deleted, or replaced for some of the configurations of the respective embodiments. Hereinafter, some modifications will be described. The modifications described below can also be applied in combination with each another.

In the present modification, a plurality of examples of the relationship between the damper setting range and the note number will be described. Each example is not limited to the case where the objective is to obtain a playing feel close to an acoustic piano. That is, it is sufficient that the damper setting range may be changed depending on the situation of the performance, and the purpose thereof is various.

Since the timbre used varies depending on the desired effect, the waveform data is not limited to those obtained by sampling the sound of an acoustic piano. In other words, the waveform data may be obtained by sampling a sound of an electric piano or may be obtained by sampling a sound of other musical instruments. In addition, the waveform data may be generated by synthesizing or modulating predetermined waveform data. Depending on the timbre selected as the target to be sounded, a particular table may be selected from the plurality of types of decay control table <NUM> exemplified below and may be referenced by the decay control unit <NUM>.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the damper setting range and the note number defined in the decay control table in the modification. In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the note number, the boundary position HS (the first boundary position) gradually becomes closer to the rest position RP, but the inclination indicating the boundary position HF is smaller than that of the example shown in <FIG>, and here, it is constant regardless of the note number. As a result, the larger the note number, the larger the half-damper range Dh. As described above, only between the half-damper range (first range) Dh with the decay speed of "DR × Kh" (first speed) and the damper-off range Doff (second range) with the decay speed of the speed according to the release time RT (second speed), the boundary position may be changed by the note number. On the other hand, unlike an embodiment, between the half-damper range Dh (first range) with the decay speed of "DR × Kh" (first speed) and the damper-on range Don (third range) with the decay speed of "DR × <NUM>" (third speed), the boundary position may not be changed by the note number.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the note number, the boundary position HF (the first boundary position) gradually becomes closer to the rest position RP, but the inclination indicating the boundary position HS is smaller than that of the example shown in <FIG>, and here, it is constant regardless of the note number. As a result, the larger the note number, the smaller the half-damper range Dh. As described above, only between the damper-on range Don (first range) with the decay speed of "DR × <NUM>" (first speed) and the half-damper range Dh (second range) with the decay speed of "DR × Kh" (second speed), the boundary position may be changed by the note number. On the other hand, unlike an embodiment, between the half-damper range Dh (first range) with the decay speed of "DR × Kh" (first speed) and the damper-off range Doff (third range) with the decay speed of the speed according to the release time RT (third speed), the boundary position may not be changed by the note number.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the note number, the boundary position HS gradually becomes closer to the end position EP, but the larger the note number, the boundary position HF gradually becomes closer to the rest position RP. As a result, the larger the note number, the smaller the half-damper range Dh.

As described above, in an acoustic piano, when the damper pedal is returned from the end position to the rest position, the lower the pitch of the string (the string whose vibration tends to be larger), the easier it is for the damper to contact with the string. On the other hand, when it becomes half-damper, the vibration is limited for the string of any pitch, it is also considered to have approximately the same amplitude. Assuming such a case, the position of the damper pedal does not depend on the pitch when the damper is turned off from the half-damper. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, it can also be considered that it is closer to the acoustic piano when the position to shift from the half-damper range Dh to the damper-off-range Doff, i.e., the boundary position HS is constant regardless of the pitch.

In addition, even in the state of half-damper and vibration is restricted, it is considered that string vibration to the opposite side of the damper is apt to occur, because the kinetic energy of the string is higher in the lower pitch. Assuming such a case, in order to be in the damper-off state, the lower the pitch, the closer the damper pedal must be to the rest position. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, it can also be considered that it is closer to the acoustic piano when the boundary position HS is made closer to the rest position RP as the pitch is lower.

In the example shown in <FIG>, it is opposite to the example shown in <FIG>, and the larger the note number, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF gradually become closer to the end position EP. As a result, the half-damper range Dh is constant regardless of the note number. As described above, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF may have different inclinations when the note number changes or may become closer to the end position EP as the note number becomes larger.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the decay control table <NUM> defines a boundary position HS1 and a boundary position HF1 corresponding to a note number smaller than the specific note number SN, and a boundary position HS2 and a boundary position HF2 corresponding to a note number larger than the specific note number SN. In this example, the boundary position HS1 and the boundary position HS2 are the same as the boundary position HS described above. On the other hand, the inclination indicating the boundary position HF2 is smaller than the inclination indicating the boundary position HF1, and here, it is constant regardless of the note number. As described above, at least one of the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF may have different inclinations in a range smaller than the specific note number SN and a range larger than the specific note number SN. The range of the note number is divided into two ranges by one specific note number SN, but it may be divided into three or more ranges. The position to be divided may be different between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the decay control table <NUM> defines the boundary position HS1 and the boundary position HF1 corresponding to the note number smaller than the specific note number SN, and the boundary position HS2 and the boundary position HF2 corresponding to the note number larger than the specific note number SN. The boundary position HS1, the boundary position HS2, the boundary position HF1, and the boundary position HF2 are all constant regardless of the note number. On the other hand, the boundary position HS1 is closer to the end position EP than the boundary position HS2, and the boundary position HF1 is closer to the end position EP than the boundary position HF2. That is, in the specified note number SN, the boundary position HS1 and the boundary position HS2 are discontinuous, and the boundary position HF1 and the boundary position HF2 are discontinuous. As described above, at least one of the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF may be discontinuous in a range smaller than the specific note number SN and in a range larger than the specific note number SN. The range of the note number is divided into two ranges by one specific note number SN, but it may be divided into three or more ranges. The position to be divided may be different between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the damper setting range that does not include the half-damper range Dh is defined in the decay control table <NUM>. That is, the damper setting range includes the damper-off range Doff and the damper-on range Don. A boundary position DS indicates the boundary position between the damper-off range Doff and the damper-on range Don. The larger the note number, the boundary position DS gradually becomes closer to the rest position RP. As described above, the damper setting range is not limited to the case including three ranges, it is sufficient to include at least two ranges as exemplified in the damper-off range Doff and the damper-on range Don. The damper setting range may include four or more ranges. For example, the half-damper range Dh may be further divided into two ranges. In this case, the decay coefficient K may be small in the half-damper range Dh2 close to the damper-on range Don than the half-damper range Dh1 close to the damper-off range Doff. This makes it possible to more accurately reflect the effect of the damper when the half-pedal is operated. (<NUM>) The decay control table <NUM> described above is not limited to the case where the damper setting range is determined by the note number (pitch information) as in the example shown in <FIG> and may be any control information obtained by the key operation <NUM>. In the present modification, velocity (speed information), sound output level (output level information), and key acceleration (acceleration information) will be described as an example of the control information. In addition, the control information may be information indicating the operation of the key <NUM> and information on the sound generated by the key operation <NUM>. In addition, for example, if the keyboard instrument <NUM> has a weight (configuration simulating a hammer of an acoustic piano) which is rotated by the operation to the key <NUM>, the control information may be information indicating the operation of the weight (e.g., speed or acceleration). Also in this example, similar to the modification shown in <FIG> shown in the modification (<NUM>), it is possible to change the damper setting range.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the damper setting range and the velocity defined in the decay control table in the modification. As shown in <FIG>, the horizontal axis represents velocity (VL). In this example, the horizontal axis is defined in a range from velocity "<NUM>" (corresponding to the minimum speed of the key <NUM> (i.e., stop)) to velocity "<NUM>" (corresponding to the maximum speed of the key <NUM>). The operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is shown on the vertical axis. In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the velocity, the damper setting range is determined so that both the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF gradually close to the end position EP. In other words, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF when the velocity is the second speed smaller than the first speed are close to the rest position RP than the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF when the velocity is the first speed. The difference between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF, that is, the half-damper range Dh is constant regardless of velocity.

The decay control unit <NUM> may acquire the velocity in the key operation data and acquire the damper setting range corresponding to the velocity in the process of the step S103 shown in <FIG>. For an acoustic piano, the greater the velocity, the larger the amplitude of the string. Therefore, when the damper pedal is returning to the rest position from the end position, the faster the key is operated and the larger the amplitude of the string, the easier it is for the damper to come into contact with the string. By determining the damper setting range based on velocity, it is also possible to get closer to the playing feel of an acoustic piano.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the damper setting range and the output level defined in the decay control table in the modification. As shown in <FIG>, the horizontal axis represents the output level EL. In this example, the horizontal axis is defined in the range from the output level "<NUM>" to the output level "<NUM>". The operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is shown on the vertical axis. In this case, the decay control unit <NUM> may acquire the output level corresponding to the processing target sound from the EV waveform generation unit <NUM> and acquire the damper setting range corresponding to the output level in the processing of the step S103 shown in <FIG>.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the output level, the damper setting range is determined so that both the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF gradually close to the end position EP. In other words, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF corresponding to the second output level smaller than the first output level are close to the rest position RP than the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF corresponding to the first output level. The difference between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF, that is, the half-damper range Dh is constant regardless of the output level. For an acoustic piano, the larger the power level, the larger the amplitude of the string. Therefore, when the damper pedal is returning to the rest position from the end position, the larger the output level and the larger the amplitude of the string, the easier it is for the damper to come into contact with the string. By determining the damper setting range based on the output level, it is also possible to get closer to the playing feel of an acoustic piano.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the damper setting range and acceleration defined in the decay control table in the modification. As shown in <FIG>, acceleration (ACC) is shown on the horizontal axis. In this example, the horizontal axis is defined in a range from the acceleration "<NUM>" (corresponding to the minimum acceleration of the key <NUM>) to the acceleration "<NUM>" (corresponding to the maximum acceleration of the key <NUM>). The operation position of the damper pedal <NUM> is shown on the vertical axis. In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the acceleration, the damper setting range is determined to be gradually close to the end position EP in both the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF. The difference between the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF, that is, the half-damper range Dh is constant regardless of the acceleration.

The decay control unit <NUM> may acquire the acceleration corresponding to the processing target sound and acquire the damper setting range corresponding to the acceleration in the processing of the step S103 shown in <FIG>. In this case, the conversion unit <NUM> may generate acceleration of the key based on the information input from the key operation measurement unit <NUM> and provide the acceleration of the key to the decay control unit <NUM> as the key operation data. For to an acoustic piano, the larger the acceleration, the larger the amplitude of the string. Therefore, when the damper pedal is returning to the rest position from the end position, the larger the amplitude of the string by the key operation with high acceleration, the easier it is for the damper to come into contact with the string. By determining the damper setting range based on the acceleration, it is also possible to get closer to the playing feel of an acoustic piano. (<NUM>) In the decay control table <NUM>, the damper setting range corresponding to the note number in the predetermined range may not be determined. In a region where the damper setting range is not determined, the decay speed is not controlled, and the predetermined decay rate DR is set.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the damper setting range and a note number defined in the decay control table in a modification. In the example shown in <FIG>, in a range that is larger than an upper limit note number UP among the note number, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF do not exist, and a non-control range NC is set as a non-target of the damper setting range. The decay control unit <NUM> does not subject the sound generated by the pitch in the non-control range NC to the decay control processing. In this way, it is also possible to reproduce the situation where the damper is not arranged, like the string of high sound in an acoustic piano. (<NUM>) The damper setting range is not limited to the case where it is determined based on one piece of control information (for example, a note number), and may be determined based on a plurality of pieces of control information. For example, the damper setting range may be determined based on the note number and the velocity. In this case, the boundary position HS and the boundary position HF may be calculated by a predetermined arithmetic expression using the note number and the velocity as variables.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the damper setting range and a plurality of control information (note number and velocity) defined in the decay control table in a modification. In the example shown in <FIG>, for clarity, the damper setting range includes the damper-on range Don and the damper-off range Doff. The boundary position DS between the damper-on range Don and the damper-off range Doff is determined based on the note number and the velocity.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the larger the note number and smaller the velocity, the boundary position DS is close to the rest position RP. That is, when the note number is minimum and the velocity is maximum, the boundary position DS is closest to the end position EP. The rate of change of the boundary position DS with respect to the velocity may be the same or different between the case where the note number is "<NUM>" and the case where the note number is "<NUM>". The range (upper limit and lower limit) of the boundary position DS may be determined in advance.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal generation device including a memory configured to store instructions and a processor communicatively connected to the memory and configured to execute the stored instructions to function as a signal generation unit configured to generate a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation, and a decay control unit configured to control a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position, wherein the decay control unit is further configured to control the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position, wherein the decay control unit is further configured to control the decay speed to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a second range adjacent to the first range, and wherein a first boundary position between the first range and the second range is determined based on control information obtained by the key operation. The signal generation device can be further configured as follows.

The decay control unit is further configured to control the decay speed to a third speed different from the first speed and the second speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a third range different from the first range and the second range.

The third range is adjacent to one of the first and second ranges. A second boundary position between the third range and one of the first range and the second range is determined based on the control information.

The third range is adjacent to the second range. A second boundary position between the second range and the third range is determined based on the control information.

A difference between the first boundary position and the second boundary position depends on the control information.

The control information includes pitch information corresponding to the key. The first boundary position indicates a first position in a case where the pitch information indicates a first pitch. The first boundary position indicates a second position closer to the rest position than the first position in a case where the pitch information indicates a second pitch higher than the first pitch.

The control information includes speed information of the key. The first boundary position indicates a third position in a case where the speed information indicates a first speed. The first boundary position indicates a fourth position closer to a rest position than the third position in a case where the speed information indicates a second speed which is smaller than the first speed.

The control information includes output level information of the sound signal generated by the key operation. The first boundary position indicates a fifth position in a case where the output level information indicates a first output level. The first boundary position indicates a sixth position closer to a rest position than the fifth position in a case where the output level information indicates a second output level smaller than the first output level.

The first boundary position between the first range and the second range is determined based on control information obtained from the key operation corresponding to the sound signal for which the decay speed is controlled.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal generation method including generating a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation, and controlling a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position, wherein controlling the decay speed of the sound signal includes determining a first boundary position between a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position and a second range adjacent to the first range based on control information obtained by the key operation, and controlling the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the first range, and to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in the second range. The signal generation method can be further configured as follows.

Controlling the decay speed of the sound signal further includes controlling the decay speed to a third speed different from the first speed and the second speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a third range different from the first range and the second range.

The third range is adjacent to one of the first range and the second range. Controlling the decay speed of the sound signal further includes determining a second boundary position between the third range and one of the first range and the second range based on the control information.

The third range is adjacent to the second range. Controlling the decay speed of the sound signal further includes determining a second boundary position between the second range and the third range based on the control information.

The control information includes pitch information corresponding to the key. The first boundary position indicates a first position in a case where the pitch information indicates a first pitch. The first boundary position indicates a second position closer to a rest position than the first position in a case where the pitch information indicates a second pitch higher than the first pitch.

Claim 1:
A signal generation device (<NUM>) comprising:
a memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor communicatively connected to the memory and configured to execute the stored instructions to function as:
a signal generation unit (<NUM>) configured to generate a sound signal based on key operation data associated with a key operation; and
a decay control unit (<NUM>) configured to control a decay speed of the sound signal based on pedal operation data associated with a pedal operation position,
wherein the decay control unit (<NUM>) is further configured to control the decay speed to a first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a first range in a changeable range of the pedal operation position,
wherein the decay control unit (<NUM>) is further configured to control the decay speed to a second speed greater than the first speed in a case where the pedal operation position is in a second range adjacent to the first range, and
wherein a first boundary position between the first range and the second range is determined based on control information obtained by the key operation.