Ensemble system

Ensemble system {ENSEMBLE SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an ensemble system in which even a person unfamiliar with musical instrument operation can easily participate in an ensemble, and more particularly, to an ensemble system in which assignment of a guide role and each participant's performance parts is made simple and flexible.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Conventionally, the electronic musical instrument which produces a musical tone with respect to a player's operation is known. Such an electronic musical instrument is modeled on, for example, a piano, and it is common to perform a performance operation similar to that of a natural musical instrument piano. In addition, in such an electronic musical instrument, skill is required to master the performance, and it takes time to get used to the performance.

However, in recent years, there has been a demand to realize a musical instrument that can be easily played by a person unfamiliar with the operation of the musical instrument. In addition, there is a demand for realization of an instrument in which not only a player can enjoy a performance alone, but also a large number of players participate to realize an ensemble.

Accordingly, as an electronic musical instrument in which a plurality of users unfamiliar with the operation of the musical instrument can easily participate in the performance, for example, the electronic musical instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-276141 has been proposed.

In the electronic musical instrument, a plurality of users can perform an ensemble by a simple operation (hand shaking operation). In addition, in this electronic musical instrument, the self (operator) is connected to the master device, and performance information for one song is transmitted in advance. At this time, the master device allocates its own performance parts based on the assignment instruction data recorded on the floppy disk. In such a case, once performance information was transmitted from the master device to the self, the transmitted performance parts could only be played by the self.

In addition, each user's user performed the performance according to the demonstration performance of the master device. However, when several people simultaneously perform activities such as rehabilitation, in many cases, a group is formed with a predetermined number of people (eg, about 5 people), and a facilitator (guide role) guides each participant. In the above electronic musical instrument, it was impossible to perform a performance according to the performance of the person serving as the model, and it was also impossible for the facilitator to show the performance by the model.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ensemble system capable of simply and flexibly allocating performance parts between a guide role and each participant.

In order to achieve the above object, an ensemble system of the present invention includes a plurality of performance terminals each having at least one performance operator for performing a performance operation, at least one sound source, the plurality of performance terminals and the at least one An ensemble system comprising a controller connected to a sound source and controlling each performance terminal, wherein the controller provides performance song data comprising a plurality of performance parts and an assignment list in which identification information of a performance terminal assigned to each performance part is described. storage means for storing; operation means for designating performance terminals participating in the ensemble and performance terminals not participating in the ensemble, and selecting performance music data to be performed in the ensemble; A performance part allocation means for allocating performance parts to each of the performance terminals based on the allocation list, wherein a performance terminal not participating in an ensemble is replaced with a separate performance terminal participating in an ensemble, Allocating the performance parts assigned to the performance terminals not participating in the ensemble to other performance terminals participating in the ensemble, and assigning the performance parts assigned to the performance terminals according to the operation mode of the performance operator of each performance terminal. It is characterized by comprising a performance control means for reading out and outputting the read data of the performance parts to the sound source.

In this invention, a user selects the performance terminal which participates in an ensemble and the performance terminal which does not participate using the operation means of a controller. In addition, the performance data to be performed in the ensemble is selected. Performance music data consists of several performance parts, and identification information of the performance terminal which allocates each performance part is described in a list. When the user selects performance song data, the controller reads out the list and assigns each performance part to the performance terminal participating in the ensemble. Then, the user instructs the start of a performance, and performs a performance operation with the performance operator of a performance terminal. The performance operator of the performance terminal is, for example, a keyboard of an electronic piano. When any key is pressed, an operation signal is transmitted to the controller. Based on the received operation signal, a controller transmits to a sound source the pronunciation instruction|indication of the performance part allocated to the performance terminal. The sound source pronounces a musical note according to the pronunciation instruction.

Preferably, the controller further comprises: a mode switching means for switching from a normal performance mode to an exemplary performance mode; and, in the exemplary performance mode, at least one performance terminal that is an object of exemplary performance from the plurality of performance terminals. selecting means for selecting , wherein a performance operation of the performance terminal selected by the selection means is performed by the performance terminal for the guide role, and musical notes are reproduced from the selected performance terminal according to the performance operation of the performance terminal for the guide role.

According to this preferred aspect, each user can hear the exemplary performance of the facilitator (guide station) with a nearby performance terminal.

Preferably, the sound source is built in each of the plurality of performance terminals, and the performance control means of the controller transfers the data of the read performance part to the sound source built in the performance terminal to which the performance part is assigned. print out

According to this preferred aspect, the controller reads the performance parts allocated to the performance terminal based on the operation signal received from the performance terminal, and transmits the data of the read performance parts to the sound source built in the performance terminal. . The built-in sound source of the performance terminal pronounces a musical note according to the received pronunciation instruction. Thereby, in each performance terminal, each performance part comes to be pronounced.

Preferably, the said performance parts assignment means changes assignment of the performance parts to each performance terminal according to the assignment change instruction|indication of the performance parts from the said operation means.

According to this preferable aspect, a user can change the performance part of each performance terminal manually. Thereby, each performance part can be played freely by the performance terminal different from an initial setting.

Preferably, when the performance terminal described in the allocation list is a performance terminal that does not participate in the ensemble, the performance parts assignment means assigns the performance parts assigned to the performance terminals not participating in the ensemble to perform as a guide. assigned to the terminal.

According to this preferred aspect, a plurality of performance parts are assigned to the performance terminal for facilitators.

Preferably, the storage means further stores a table defining a plurality of performance parts related to each other as a group, and the performance parts allocating means comprises: In the case of a performance terminal, the performance part allocated to the performance terminal which does not participate in the ensemble is allocated to the performance terminal to which other performance parts belonging to the same group are allocated with reference to the said table.

According to this preferred aspect, the performance parts (for example, drums) assigned to the performance terminals not participating in the ensemble are assigned with other performance parts (for example, the bass) belonging to the same group with reference to the table above. assigned to the terminal. Thereby, it can be replaced with the other performance terminal to which the performance part with a tone tone or a role relationship is close is assigned. As a plurality of performance parts concerned, there are performance parts of a plurality of string instruments, performance parts of a plurality of wind instruments, etc. other than the performance parts of a drum and a bass.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a performance system;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controller;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a performance terminal;

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of music data;

It is a figure which shows an example of a parts allocation table.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a main operation window;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a MIDI port selection window;

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an ensemble window;

9A is a view showing the setting of the number of beats, and FIG. 9B is a beat timing (1st beat, 3rd beat) and a beat that does not have key timing (2nd beat, 4th beat) A drawing showing an example of an icon display of

Figure 10 is a diagram showing the transition of the current bakta.

It is a figure explaining the shift|offset|difference of the beat with a performance terminal "Facilitator".

Fig. 12A is a diagram for explaining an exemplary performance mode, and Fig. 12B is a diagram showing a part of a screen for selecting a performance terminal for performing an exemplary performance.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller in the exemplary performance mode;

<The best mode for carrying out the invention>

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described in detail, referring drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ensemble system. As shown in Fig. 1, this ensemble system includes a controller 1 and a plurality of (six in Fig. 1) performance terminals 2A to 2F connected to the controller 1 via a MIDI interface box 3 ) is provided. Among the plurality of performance terminals 2, the performance terminal 2A serves as a performance terminal for a facilitator (guide station), and the performance terminals 2B to 2F serve as a performance terminal for a participant (student station). The five participants who use the performance terminals 2B to 2F always use the same performance terminal 2 . Thereby, the facilitator becomes able to identify a participant by the performance terminal.

The controller 1 is constituted by, for example, a personal computer, and controls each performance terminal 2 and collects data by software mounted on the personal computer. The controller 1 memorize|stores the performance music data which consists of a plurality of parts. These parts consist of one or more melody parts, rhythm parts, accompaniment parts, and the like. The controller 1 is provided with the communication part 11 mentioned later which transmits the pronunciation data of each part (or several parts) to each performance terminal 2 .

The performance terminal 2 generates a musical tone according to the user's performance operation while the user performs a performance operation, and is constituted of, for example, an electronic keyboard musical instrument such as an electronic piano. In this embodiment, each performance terminal 2 is connected by a separate MIDI system using the MIDI interface box 3 connected with the controller 1 by USB. In FIG. 1, let 2 A of performance terminals be the performance terminal for facilitators. The designation of the performance terminal for the facilitator is performed by the controller 1 . In addition, the performance terminal 2 is not limited to an electronic piano, Other types of electronic musical instruments, such as an electric guitar, may be sufficient. Of course, the appearance is not limited to a natural musical instrument, and a terminal simply provided with an operator such as a button may be used.

In addition, it is not necessary for the performance terminal 2 to have a built-in sound source, and an independent sound source may be connected to the controller 1 . In this case, the number of the sound sources connected to the controller 1 may be one, and the same number as the performance terminal 2 may be sufficient. When connecting the same number of sound sources to the performance terminal 2, the controller 1 may associate each sound source with the performance terminal 2 to allocate each part of the performance song data.

The said ensemble system allocates the some performance part of the performance music data memorize|stored by the controller 1, respectively to the some performance terminal 2, and each performance terminal 2 automatically performs the assigned performance part independently. proceed with When the user performs a performance operation (for example, by hitting the keyboard of the electric piano) using the performance terminal 2, an instruction of the tempo and timing is transmitted to the controller 1 . The controller 1 transmits to the performance terminal 2 the pronunciation instruction of each note of the performance part assigned to the performance terminal 2 based on the input tempo and timing instructions. The performance terminal 2 performs automatic performance based on the received pronunciation instruction. The ensemble is established when the student using each performance terminal 2 takes the tempo according to the facilitator. Hereinafter, the configuration of the controller 1 and the performance terminal 2 will be described in detail.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 1 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the controller 1 includes a communication unit 11 , a control unit 12 , an HDD 13 , a RAM 14 , an operation unit 15 , and a display unit 16 . The control unit 12 is connected to a communication unit 11 , an HDD 13 , a RAM 14 , an operation unit 15 , and a display unit 16 .

The communication unit 11 is a circuit unit that communicates with the performance terminal 2, and has a USB interface (not shown). A MIDI interface box 3 is connected to this USB interface, and the communication unit 11 communicates with the six performance terminals 2 via this MIDI interface box 3 and MIDI cables. The HDD 13 stores a program for operation of the controller 1 and performance music data comprising a plurality of parts.

The control unit 12 reads out the operation program stored in the HDD 13 and expands it to the RAM 14 serving as a work memory, and the part assignment processing 50 , the sequence processing 51 , and the pronunciation instruction processing 52 . ), etc. In the parts assignment process 50, each performance part of performance music data is allocated to the some performance terminal 2. As shown in FIG. In the sequencing process 51, each performance part of performance music data is sequenced (determining the pitch, sound field, etc. of each note) according to the instruction|indication of the tempo and timing received from each performance terminal 2 . In the pronunciation instruction processing 52, the pitch, sound field, and the like of each note determined in the sequence processing 51 are transmitted to the performance terminal 2 as pronunciation instruction data.

The operation unit 15 is for a user (mainly a facilitator) to give an operation instruction of this performance system. The facilitator operates the operation unit 15 to designate, for example, performance music data to be played, or allocates performance parts for each performance terminal 2 . The display unit 16 is a display (monitor), and the facilitator and each participant perform a performance operation while looking at the display unit 16 . As will be described in detail later, various information for performing an ensemble is displayed on the display unit 16 .

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the performance terminal 2 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the performance terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21 , a control unit 22 , a keyboard 23 serving as a performance operator, a sound source 24 , and a speaker 25 . A communication unit 21 , a keyboard 23 , and a sound source 24 are connected to the control unit 22 . In addition, a speaker 25 is connected to the sound source 24 .

The communication unit 21 is a MIDI interface and communicates with the controller 1 via a MIDI cable. The control unit 22 controls the performance terminal 2 collectively. The keyboard 23 has, for example, the number of keys of 61 or 88 keys, and can play a range of 5 to 7 octaves. Velocity) data is used only. That is, each key has a built-in sensor for detecting on/off and a sensor for detecting the strength of the key. is output to the control unit 22 . The control unit 22 transmits a note-on message or a note-off message to the controller 1 via the communication unit 21 based on the input operation signal. The sound source 24 generates a tone waveform under the control of the control unit 22 and outputs it to the speaker 25 as an audio signal. The speaker 25 reproduces the audio signal input from the sound source 24, and produces a musical tone. In addition, as described above, the sound source 24 and the speaker 25 need not be built in the performance terminal 2 . The sound source 24 and the speaker 25 may be connected to the controller 1, and a musical tone may be sounded from a place different from the performance terminal 2. Although the same number of sound sources as each of the performance terminals 2 may be connected to the controller 1, a single sound source may be used.

In the above operation, when the keyboard 23 is pressed, the control unit 22 transmits (locally off) a note on/note off message to the controller 1, not the note message by the keyboard 23, but the controller Although musical notes are sounded according to the instruction from (1), of course, the performance terminal 2 can also be used as a general electronic musical instrument apart from the above operations. When the keyboard 23 is keyed, the control unit 22 does not transmit a note message to the controller 1 (locally on), and it is also possible to instruct the sound source 24 to pronounce a musical note based on the note message. . The local on and local off may be switched by the user using the operation unit 15 of the controller 1 or may be switched by the terminal operation unit (not shown) of the performance terminal 2 . It is also possible to set only some keys to be locally turned off and other keys to be locally on.

Next, an operation for performing an ensemble using the ensemble system as described above will be described. A user (particularly a facilitator) selects performance music data using the operation unit 15 of the controller 1 . The performance song data is data (standard MIDI) prepared in advance based on the MIDI standard, and is stored in the HDD 13 of the controller 1 . An example of this music data is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, performance music data consists of several performance parts, and the identification information which identifies each performance part, and the performance information of each performance part are included.

When the user selects the performance music data, the controller 1 assigns a performance part to each of the connected performance terminals 2 respectively. A table is stipulated in advance as to which performance part is assigned to which performance terminal. 5 : is a figure which shows an example of a performance parts allocation table. As shown in FIG. 5, MIDI port 0 (performance terminal for facilitators) respond|corresponds to the performance parts 1, For example, in FIG. 1, the performance parts 1 is allocated to 2 A of performance terminals. The MIDI port indicates the port number of the MIDI interface box 3, and each performance terminal 2 is identified by the connected MIDI port. Hereinafter, the MIDI port 1 (piano 1) respond|corresponds to the performance part 2 similarly, for example, in FIG. 1, the performance part 2 is allocated to the performance terminal 2B. In this way, performance parts are automatically assigned to each performance terminal 2, respectively. This performance part assignment table is previously registered in the HDD 13 of the controller 1 by the facilitator. Alternatively, the facilitator may manually select by using the operation unit 15 of the controller 1 .

In addition, when each performance terminal 2 is connected to a USB port, what is necessary is just to identify each performance terminal 2 by a USB port number.

When the facilitator selects performance song data and the performance parts are assigned to each performance terminal 2 by the controller 1, the operation unit 15 of the controller 1 inputs an instruction of a performance start standby by the facilitator. The performance start standby as used herein does not mean that musical notes are actually generated, but the controller 1 reads the performance song data from the HDD 13 to the RAM 14 and sets it to a ready state for performing a performance operation.

When the instruction of the performance start standby is input to the operation part 15 and the controller 1 performs performance preparation, a performance becomes possible in each performance terminal 2 . In this ensemble system, a plurality of users perform a performance operation according to the performance of a facilitator (ensemble leader). That is, since each user performs the performance according to the facilitator's performance (human performance), rather than simply playing according to the model performance (machine demonstration performance), the feeling that they are actually performing the ensemble can be obtained.

The operation of the ensemble system during ensemble will be described. When each user presses the operator (keyboard) 23 of the performance terminal 2 with their finger, the control unit 22 transmits a note-on message to the controller 1 according to the strength with which the key 23 is pressed. The note-on message includes information such as velocity of the keystroke. Further, when the keyboard 23 is returned to its original state (if the finger is released), the control unit 22 transmits a note-off message to the controller 1 . The controller 1, based on the note on message and the note off message received from the performance terminal 2, of the performance parts assigned to the performance terminal 2, for a predetermined length (for example, one beat) The pitch, sound field, etc. of each note of the performance music data is determined, and the performance music data in which the pitch, sound field, etc. are determined is transmitted to the performance terminal 2 as pronunciation instruction data. The pronunciation instruction data includes timing to be pronounced, sound field, intensity, tone, effect, pitch change (pitch bend), tempo, and the like.

The controller 1 determines the pronunciation instruction data based on a time from receiving the note on message until receiving the note off message . Specifically, when a note-on message is input, performance information for a predetermined length (eg, one beat) of the corresponding performance part is read from the performance data to determine the timing, tone, effect, pitch change, and the like to be pronounced. Also, the controller 1 determines the pronunciation strength from the Velocity information of the note-on message. The performance information of the performance song data includes information indicating the volume, and the intensity is determined by multiplying the volume by the Velocity information. That is, although volume information in consideration of the volume expression (sound strength and weakness) in the music is included in the performance data in advance, the strength expression according to the strength of each user's pressing the key is added to determine the pronunciation strength.

When the note-off message is input, the controller 1 measures the time after the note-on message is input. Until the note-off message is input, the first-pronounced musical note is generated as it is, and when the note-off message is input, the tempo for the beat and the sound field of each note are determined to pronounce the next note.

In addition, the tempo may be simply determined from the time from note-on to note-off (referred to as Gate Time), or the tempo may be determined as follows. That is, a moving average of Gate Time is calculated for a plurality of keystrokes (from the most recent to several times before), and weighting is given to this by time. The most recent key is given the greatest weight, and the weight given to the past key is made smaller. By determining the tempo in this way, even if the Gate Time is significantly changed only at a certain keystroke, the tempo does not change suddenly, and the tempo can be changed without a sense of incongruity according to the flow of the song.

The control unit 22 of the performance terminal 2 receives the pronunciation instruction data determined by the controller 1 as described above, and instructs the sound source 24 to generate a tone waveform. The sound source 24 generates a tone waveform and reproduces the tone from the speaker 25 . Each time the user presses the key 23, the above process is repeated, for example, by pressing the key 23 at every beat, the music can be played.

In addition, as described above, since the first-pronounced musical tone is generated as it is until the note-off message is input, the same tone continues to sound until the user removes his or her finger from the keyboard 23, and in this ensemble system, , it is possible to realize a performance expression (fermata) that increases the note.

In addition, by determining the tempo by the moving average of the Gate Time as described above, the following performance expression can be realized. For example, when the keyboard 23 is briefly pressed only during a certain keystroke, the sound field of each note of the beat is shortened. make it long In this way, it is possible to realize a performance expression (staccato) in which the tempo does not change significantly but each note is cut off easily, or a performance expression (tenuto) in which the length of a note is maintained without significantly changing the tempo (tenuto).

In addition, in this embodiment, even if any one of the keys 23 of the performance terminals 2A to 2F is pressed, the note on message and the note off message are transmitted to the controller 1, but the above-mentioned staccato and tenuto hear You may separate the keyboard from the one you don't hear. The controller 1 may change the sound field while maintaining the tempo only when a note-on message or a note-off message from a specific key (eg, E3) is input.

Next, the user interface displayed on the display unit 16 will be described. 6 is a main operation window displayed on the display unit 16 . In the upper text field of this window, the name of the performance data selected by the user is displayed. In the "Setting" field, each performance terminal (Facilitator, Piano 1 to 5) is displayed, and a pull-down menu for selecting attendance and a radio button for assigning a performance part are displayed for each performance terminal. The performance terminals (Facilitators, Pianos 1 to 5) are respectively associated with the MIDI ports of the MIDI interface box 3 . Further, as shown in Fig. 7, it is also possible for the facilitator to manually select a MIDI port corresponding to the performance terminals (Facilitator, Piano 1 to 5).

The pull-down menu for attendance is selected and entered by the facilitator according to the student's attendance. As for the radio button, only the performance terminal to which the performance part is assigned in the performance music data is displayed.

In the example in FIG. 7, the performance parts (1, 2, 3, 10) are set in the selected performance data, and when this performance data is selected, the performance terminal "Facilitator", "Piano 1", "Piano 2" and "Piano 3" are automatically assigned to the performance parts (1, 2, 3, 10). In addition, in Fig. 7, since only four performance parts are included in the selected performance song data, performance parts are assigned only to the performance terminals "Facilitator" and "Piano 1 to 3". When parts are included, performance parts are assigned to each of the performance terminals "Facilitator" and "Piano 1-5." When the number of performance parts is larger than that of a MIDI port (performance terminal), several performance parts are allocated to performance terminal "Facilitator." Here, it is also possible for a user (facilitator) who operates the controller 1 to manually select each performance part from a desired performance terminal by selecting a radio button. In addition, when the check box of "Facilitator Only" is selected, all performance parts are assigned to the performance terminal "Facilitator". In addition, the radio button is not displayed in the performance terminal whose pull-down menu is set to "absent", and no performance part is assigned.

In addition, even in the case of automatically assigning performance parts based on the table in Fig. 5, if "absent" is selected for the pull-down menu of "attendance" and "absence", the performance parts to be assigned to the performance terminal are It is assigned to the performance terminal "Facilitator". In addition, in this case, the performance part of "absent" is replaced with another performance terminal to which a performance part with a close tone or a performance part with a close musical role relationship (for example, a bass for a drum, a string instrument group, etc.) is assigned and assigned may be made to do so. The performance parts related to each other may be defined in advance by a table.

After assignment of the performance parts, if the Start button among the performance control buttons displayed in the center left part of the window is pressed, the performance starts standby, and the ensemble window shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 16 . Also in this window, the data name of the selected performance song is displayed in the upper text field. In the upper right corner of the window, the number of measures of the selected performance data and the currently playing measure are displayed. In the beat setting field displayed at the upper center of the window, a radio button for setting the number of beats within one measure is displayed. In Fig. 8, since one measure is played for the music data of 4 beats/4 minutes, if the number of beats is set to 4, the keys are played for every beat. In addition, as shown in Fig. 9A, if the radio button with the number of beats 2 is selected in this performance song, every other beat is played, and the first beat and the third beat are the timings. In this case, when the note-on message and the note-off message are transmitted from the performance terminal 2, the controller 1 returns two beats' worth of pronunciation instruction data. That is, it becomes a performance for 2 beats with one keystroke.

8, on the left side of the center of the ensemble window, for each performance terminal (Facilitator, Piano 1, Piano 2, Piano 3), the current measure number, the number of beats within a measure (the number of times to be played within a measure), and the current beat (current key timing) is displayed. The number of times to be keyed is displayed as an icon of a rectangular shape with numbers written therein, as shown in FIG. A display method is not limited to the icon of this example, The icon of another shape may be sufficient. In addition, as shown in Fig. 9B, the beats (2nd beat, 4th beat) that do not have key key timing are displayed by changing them to icons of other shapes, such as round numbers.

When the user plays the key, the current beat changes by one beat as shown in FIG. 10 . That is, the icons of the three-dimensional square shape or bold letters are changed in the order of the first beat, the second beat, the third beat, and the fourth beat for each key. Since the performance data in this example is music data in 4 beats/4 minutes, when the key next to the 4th beat is played, it returns to the 1st beat and advances by 1 measure.

In FIG. 8, the field which shows the deviation of the beat with the performance terminal "Facilitator" is displayed on the right side of the center of the window. In this field, a plurality of lines (eg, five) are displayed in the vertical direction, and the lines are displayed in a horizontal direction corresponding to each performance terminal. In addition, a round mark is displayed corresponding to each performance terminal. This round mark indicates the deviation of the beat from the performance terminal "Facilitator".

It is a figure explaining the shift|offset|difference of the beat with the performance terminal "Facilitator". As shown in FIG. 11, the round display corresponding to the performance terminal "Facilitator" is displayed by being fixed to the center line among the lines in the vertical direction. The round display corresponding to each user's performance terminal (for example, "Piano 1") moves left and right according to the deviation of the beat with the performance terminal "Facilitator". For example, if the key is delayed by one measure (in this example, 4 beats) from the performance terminal "Facilitator", as shown in FIG. 11, the round display moves to the left by one vertical line. In the case of a half-measure (2 beats) delay, the round display moves from the center line in the vertical direction to the left by half the line interval. On the other hand, when the key is faster than the performance terminal "Facilitator", the round mark moves to the right. In Fig. 11, since two lines are displayed on the left and right from the center line, it is possible to display the deviation of the beat in two measures. In the case of a deviation of beats by more than 2 measures, the icon is changed on the left and right ends of the line (for example, it is changed to a square-shaped icon). In this way, each user can easily recognize the deviation of the performance (beat) with the facilitator. Incidentally, in the above example, one line indicates a deviation of one measure, but, for example, one line may indicate a deviation of 1/2 measure or two measures.

In addition, the performance terminal used as a reference|standard is not limited to the performance terminal "Facilitator". Among the plurality of performance terminals 2 , the amount of deviation of the beat with the performance terminal 2 may be displayed on the basis of any one of the performance terminals 2 .

In addition, the field indicating the deviation of the beat from the performance terminal "Facilitator" is not limited to the example displayed on the display unit 16 of the controller 1, but a display unit for a performance terminal installed in each performance terminal 2 ( (not shown) may be displayed.

As described above, each user can perform a performance with an easy operation of pressing a key with one finger, and by performing an operation so as to eliminate the deviation of the performance (beat) with the performance terminal "Facilitator" displayed on the display unit 16, Multiple people can enjoy and perform the ensemble.

In addition, the ensemble system can perform the following operations as a modified example. 12A is a diagram for explaining an exemplary performance mode. As shown in FIG. 12A , an "exemplary" icon is displayed in either area (eg, the left part, etc.) of the main operation window shown in FIG. 6 . When this "exemplary" icon is pressed by the facilitator, the normal performance mode is switched to the exemplary performance mode. Fig. 12B is a part of a screen for selecting a performance terminal for performing an exemplary performance. As shown in Fig. 12B, in the exemplary performance mode, radio buttons for each performance terminal 2 other than for the facilitator are displayed. The facilitator selects radio buttons of the performance terminals Piano 1 to Piano 5 to which the exemplary performance is to be performed. In the exemplary performance mode, the performance operation of the selected performance terminal 2 is performed by the performance terminal "Facilitator", and musical notes are reproduced from the selected performance terminal 2 according to the operation of the performance terminal "Facilitator". For example, as shown in FIG. 12B , when Piano 1 is selected and the keyboard of the performance terminal "Facilitator" is played, the controller 1 transmits pronunciation data to the performance terminal "Piano 1" according to the input note message. The pronunciation data to be transmitted is a performance part allocated to the performance terminal "Piano 1". In the performance terminal "Piano 1", a musical tone is pronounced based on the received pronunciation data. Thereby, each user can listen to the exemplary performance of the facilitator with a nearby performance terminal. In the above example, an example in which a single player terminal is selected with a radio button to perform an exemplary performance is shown, however, a plurality of performance terminals may be selected to perform an exemplary performance at the same time. It is also possible to select all the performance terminals.

The operation of the ensemble system in the exemplary performance mode will be described in detail. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller 1 in the exemplary performance mode. Pressing the "Example" icon by the facilitator is a trigger to initiate this operation.

First, it is determined whether a note-on message has been received (s11). This judgment is repeated until a note-on message is received. When the note-on message is received, it is determined whether the note-on message is a note-on message transmitted from the performance terminal for the facilitator (s12). If the received note-on message is not a note message transmitted from the performance terminal for the facilitator, the process is repeated from the reception determination (s12s11). On the other hand, if the received note-on message is a note message transmitted from the performance terminal for the facilitator, the performance data of the performance part assigned to the specified performance terminal is sequenced (determining the pitch, sound field, etc. of each note) (s13) . The designated performance terminal is selected by the facilitator as described above. When the facilitator presses the "Example" icon, it is assumed that Piano 1 is selected as the designated performance terminal in the initial state, but the performance terminal corresponding to the pressed "Example" icon in FIG. 12A may be selected as the designated performance terminal. Thereafter, the pronunciation data is transmitted to the designated performance terminal (s14).

As described above, in the ensemble system of the present embodiment, performance parts are automatically assigned only by instructing each performance terminal to participate (attend) and non-participate (absence). It can be done simply and flexibly. In addition, since the performance parts of each performance terminal can be manually changed, each performance part can be played with a performance terminal different from the initial setting.

According to the present invention, performance parts are automatically assigned only by instructing the participation (attendance) or non-participation (absence) of each performance terminal. . In addition, since the performance parts of each performance terminal can be manually changed, each performance part can be played even with a performance terminal different from the initial setting, thereby providing an exemplary performance terminal for the facilitator.