Yamaha Corporation

Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha

Hirokazu Kato

Minoru Ogita

Takuro Sone

Youji Semba

Kanehisa Tsurumi

Takahiro Tanaka

Akinori Endo

Hiroshi Mino

Hideki Sato

Takatoshi Okumura

Shigemitsu Yamaoka

Takurou Sone

Toshihiko Muramatsu

Shingo Kamiya

Keizyu Anada

Toshiya Iida

Masashi Tashiro

Michihiko Goto

Tom Jen Sai

Takashi Nitatori

A cellular phone includes an X-axis magnetic sensor for outputting a first value corresponding to a component of an external magnetic field along the direction of a transverse axis of the main body, and a Y-axis magnetic sensor for outputting a second value corresponding to a component of the external magnetic field along the direction of a longitudinal axis of the main body. The cellular phone includes a ROM which stores a conversion table defining the relation between the first and second values and values of azimuth and inclination angle of the longitudinal axis of the main body. The cellular phone determines the azimuth and inclination angle on the basis of the first and second values actually output from the X-axis and Y-axis magnetic sensors and with reference to the conversion table.

Electronic apparatus

A karaoke apparatus accompanies a vocal performance with a karaoke accompaniment reproduced according to karaoke data. In the karaoke apparatus, an input device separately converts a plurality of singing voices vocalized by different singers into respective ones of initial voice signals. At least one pitch sifter is utilized to shift a pitch of the initial voice signal to create a modified voice signal representative of a harmony voice made consonant to the singing voice. A distributor operates according to control information contained in the karaoke data to selectively distribute at least one of the initial voice signals to the pitch sifter so as to create the modified voice signal corresponding to the distributed initial voice signal. An output device selectively mixes the initial voice signals and the modified voice signal to reproduce the vocal performance composed of selected ones of the singing voices and the harmony voice in synchronization with the karaoke accompaniment.

Karaoke apparatus selectively providing harmony voice to duet singing

A digital communication system communicates data between a transmitter station and a receiver station by means of a carrier wave. The transmitter station has a packet assembler for assembling data having an original format into a packet, an encoder for encoding the data in the packet from an initial eight-bit form into a fourteen-bit form, and a modulator for modulating a carrier wave by the encoded data so as to transmit the packet of encoded data in the fourteen-bit form. The receiver station has a demodulator receptive of the modulated carrier wave for demodulating the same to separate therefrom the packet of encoded data, a decoder for decoding the encoded data in the packet from the fourteen-bit form into the initial eight-bit form, and a packet disassembler for disassembling the packet of decoded data to restore the original format of the data having the initial eight-bit form.

Digital communication system using packet assembling/disassembling and

A karaoke apparatus is provided with a first storage for storing a plurality of karaoke data files corresponding to a plurality of karaoke songs and containing an accompaniment data and a picture index data, a second storage for storing a plurality of primary pictures, and a third storage for storing a plurality of secondary pictures which are mixed to the primary pictures. Upon requesting a desired karaoke song to select the corresponding karaoke data file, particular ones of the primary pictures and the secondary pictures are retrieved from the second and third storages according to the picture index data contained in the selected karaoke data file. A video mixer operates for mixing the retrieved secondary picture to the retrieved primary picture to synthesize a composite picture which meets a mood of the requested karaoke song. A tone generator operates according to the accompaniment data contained in the selected karaoke data file to sound an instrumental accompaniment of the requested karaoke song. A monitor displays the composite picture in synchronization with the instrumental accompaniment so as to present a background screen of the performed karaoke song.

Karaoke apparatus having video mixer of main and insert pictures

In a karaoke vocal adaptor 100, voice signals to which a harmony effect is imparted by the harmony effect imparting circuit, and voice signals to which the harmony effect is not imparted are output from wet voice output terminals 121 and 122, and dry voice output terminals 111 and 112, respectively. In a karaoke amplifier 200, an echo is imparted only to voice signals input through dry voice input terminals 221 and 222, by an echo imparting unit 233, the voice signals are then mixed with voice signals input through wet voice input terminals 241 and 242, and musical signals input through music input terminals 251 and 252, and the mixed signals are output.

Harmony effect imparting apparatus and a karaoke amplifier

A method is designed for feeding karaoke data representative of karaoke performance to a karaoke apparatus having an audio section and a video section. The method is conducted by the following steps. The initial step is formatting the karaoke data containing various kinds of data items including music control data and word control data into a plurality of packets such that each packet is formed of a body containing a segment of the karaoke data and a header containing identification information indicating the kind of the karaoke data contained in the body of each packet. The next step is delivering the plurality of the packets in a stream to the karaoke apparatus according to a predetermined order by which the karaoke apparatus time-sequentially processes the stream of the packets. The further step is selectively distributing the music control data contained in the processed packets to the audio section in accordance with the identification information to thereby enable the audio section to generate music tones of the karaoke performance. The last step is selectively distributing the word control data contained in the processed packets to the video section in accordance with the identification information to thereby enable the video section to display lyric words of the karaoke performance in synchronization with the music tones.

Transporting method of karaoke data by packets

A Karaoke apparatus reproduces an instrumental accompaniment of a song requested by a singer during the course of a vocal performance of the song by the singer. A memory is provided for registering a composite text data of a song containing accompaniment information, word information and picture information in linked manner with each other. A sound system receives the accompaniment information for reproducing an instrument accompaniment of said song according to the accompaniment information. A display system receives the word information and the picture information for displaying a word of said song in the form of a sequence of characters according to the word information, and for displaying, in superposed relation to the word, an image associated to said song according to the picture information. A controller addresses the memory to sequentially distribute the accompaniment information, the word information and the picture information in synchronous manner with each other to those of the sound system and the display system so that the word and the image can be displayed in linked manner to progression of the sounded instrumental accompaniment.

Karaoke apparatus displaying image synchronously with orchestra

A karaoke network system includes a central station for serving karaoke data and image data, and a group of karaoke terminals connected to the central station through a communication line having a common channel and a plurality of parallel channels for locally presenting a karaoke accompaniment and a background picture. The central station includes a first server responsive to a request command from karaoke terminal for transmitting to the common channel requested karaoke data individually addressed to the karaoke terminal, and a second server operative independently of the first server for transmitting to the parallel channels a plurality of different image data continuously broadcast to each karaoke terminal. The karaoke terminal includes an admitter for admitting the karaoke data addressed thereto from the common channel, and a selector for selecting one of the parallel channels to admit therefrom image data associated to the admitted karaoke data, such that the karaoke terminal can present the karaoke accompaniment and the background picture according to the simultaneously admitted karaoke data and the image data.

Karaoke network system with broadcasting of background pictures

A karaoke system has a player for presenting a karaoke accompaniment according to a song data selected in response to a request, and a loader coupled to the player for downloading thereinto a song data. The loader is comprised of a casing having a first face, one coupling member disposed in the first face, a primary storage disposed in the casing for storing a plurality of song data, and a transmitter for retrieving the song data from the primary storage to transmit the same through the one coupling member. The player is comprised of a housing having a second face arranged such as to confront the first face when the loader is placed in a coupled state with the player, another coupling member disposed in the second face in opposed relation to the one coupling member to thereby form a wireless coupler under the coupled state, a secondary storage disposed in the housing, a receiver for receiving the song data transmitted through the wireless coupler to store the same into the secondary storage, and a sound synthesizer responsive to a request for selectively retrieving a desired song data from the secondary storage so as to sound the karaoke accompaniment.

Portable downloader connectable to karaoke player through wireless

A karaoke apparatus has an information source for providing a performance data containing musical tone designation information, lyric indication information and fading control information according to progression of a karaoke song in response to a request. A tone generator operates according to the musical tone designation information for generating musical tones of the karaoke song. A first signal generator operates according to the lyric indication information for generating a lyric image signal indicative of lyric words of the karaoke song. A second signal generator generates a background image signal representative of a background scene of the karaoke song. A video superimposer operates according to the fading control information for mixing the lyric image signal and the background image signal with each other to synthesize a composite image signal such that a mixing ratio of the lyric image signal and the background image signal is time-variably controlled according to the fading control information during the course of the progression of the karaoke song. A display device operates according to the composite image signal for displaying a mixture of the lyric words and the background scene in either of fade-in and fade-out manners relative to each other during the course of the progression of the karaoke song.

Karaoke apparatus and method for displaying mixture of lyric words and

The karaoke apparatus is constructed for accompanying a karaoke music on a singer according to music information. In the karaoke apparatus, a providing device provides the music information containing accompaniment data and at least first reference data and second reference data, respectively, corresponding to a first part and a second part of the karaoke music. A generating device generates the karaoke music according to the accompaniment data while a first singer sings the first part along with the karaoke music and a second singer sings the second part along with the karaoke music. A collecting device collects a first singing voice of the first singer and a second singing voice of the second singer during progression of the karaoke music. An extracting device extracts from the collected first singing voice a first music property characteristic to a singing skill of the first singer, and separately extracts from the second singing voice a second music property characteristic to a singing skill of the second singer. A scoring device compares the first music property with the first reference data to evaluate the singing skill of the first singer, and compares the second music property with the second reference data to evaluate the singing skill of the second singer so that the singing skill of the first singer and the singing skill of the second singer can be scored individually and independently from one another while the first singing voice and the second singing voice are mixed to each other.

Karaoke apparatus with individual scoring of duet singers

A Karaoke apparatus responds to a request message for performing an entry song. The Karaoke apparatus has a music data storage for storing music data representative of a plurality of entry songs, and a reference data storage for storing reference data representative of a multiple of key items which specify the entry songs. A microphone is provided for collecting an oral request message and for converting the same into a corresponding voice signal. The voice signal is analyzed to extract therefrom key information which suggests a desired entry song. The reference data storage is searched to detect coincidence between the key information and at least one of the key items to thereby identify the desired entry song. The Karaoke apparatus retrieves music data of the desired entry song from the music data storage to perform the desired entry song according to the retrieved music data.

Karaoke apparatus responsive to oral request of entry songs

A Karaoke apparatus, a host apparatus and a management apparatus are interconnected to each other through a communication line to constitute a centralized system. The host apparatus receives an entry code requesting a Karaoke service of a desired song from the Karaoke apparatus through the communication line for supplying a music data of the desired song. The management apparatus receives an order code requesting an additional service other than the Karaoke service from the Karaoke apparatus through the communication line for attending to the order code and returning a response message. The Karaoke apparatus is equipped with an input tool having a primary use for inputting the entry code and a secondary use for inputting the order code. A transmitter distributes the inputted entry code to the host apparatus and distributes the inputted order code to the management apparatus. A receiver receives the music data from the host apparatus and receives the response message from the management apparatus. A player is operated for reproducing the desired song according to the received music data to thereby provide the Karaoke service, and a display is operated for displaying the received response message to thereby indicate how the additional service is managed.

Centralized system providing karaoke service and extraneous service to

A karaoke online system is composed of a karaoke station and a karaoke terminal telecommunicable with the karaoke station. The karaoke station has a database for storing a plurality of performance data files corresponding to a plurality of karaoke songs, each performance data file containing a sequence data which time-sequentially designates musical tones of the corresponding karaoke song. A selector responds to a request command transmitted from the karaoke terminal for selecting a performance data file of a karaoke song designated by the request command. A transmitter transmits the sequence data contained in the selected performance data file to the karaoke station in synchronization with a predetermined tempo of the designated karaoke song. On the other hand, the karaoke terminal transmits the request command to the karaoke station upon a request of the designated karaoke song to be performed. Further, a performing unit receives the sequence data transmitted from the transmitter and directly drives an internal tone generator in response to the received sequence data to thereby generate the musical tones of the designated karaoke song according to the predetermined tempo in real-time basis.

Online system for direct driving of remote karaoke terminal by host

A karaoke apparatus sounds a karaoke accompaniment and displays visual information to perform karaoke play. An audio generator responds to a request for generating an audio signal. A sound component is switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to sound a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request. A video generator having a plurality of channels generates a plurality of video signals which represent visual information containing various items assigned differently to the representative channels. A channel selector switches the channels to select an adequate video signal so as to control the visual information. A monitor receives the selected video signal for displaying the visual information such that the displayed visual information includes a necessary item and excludes an unnecessary item for the karaoke play at least under the active state of the sound component.

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Hamamatsu, Japan

Hirokazu Kato