Voice processor

Abstract

The voice processor includes a microphone for a device for inputting a voice signal, a device for inputting chord information from an electronic musical instrument or the like, a converter for converting the pitch of the voice signal into a specified pitch according to the chord information, a mixer for mixing the input voice signal and a pitch-converted voice signal, and a loudspeaker for outputting the mixed signal. The pitch of the input voice signal is converted into such one as will be consonant with the chord information or as will coincide therewith and thereafter the pitch converted signal will be output along with the input voice signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A voice processor comprising: 
       voice input means for inputting a voice signal having a pitch;  
       chord information input means for inputting a chord;  
       pitch conversion means for converting the input voice signal into a pitch-converted voice signal having a pitch different from the pitch of the input voice signal, the pitch conversion means converting the pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the input chord from the chord information input means and for outputting the pitch-converted voice signal; and  
       means for combining the pitch-converted voice signal with the input voice signal to add sound effects thereto;  
       the chord information input means comprising play information input means for inputting playing information and chord detection means for detecting the input chord from playing information inputted by the play information input means.  
     
     
       2. A voice processor according to claim  1  further comprising, voice mixing means for mixing the input voice signal from the voice input means and the pitch-converted voice signal from the pitch conversion means and outputting a mixed voice signal. 
     
     
       3. A voice processor according to claim  1 , wherein chord sequence data is input by the chord information input means as the input chord. 
     
     
       4. A voice processor comprising: 
       voice input means for inputting a voice signal having a pitch;  
       chord information input means for inputting chord information;  
       pitch conversion means for converting the input voice signal into a pitch-converted voice signal having a pitch different from the pitch of the input voice signal, the pitch conversion means converting the pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the chord information from the chord information input means and outputting the pitch-converted voice signal, the pitch conversion means converting the input voice signal inputted from the voice input means consonant with the chord information; and  
       means for combining the pitch-converted voice signal with the input voice signal;  
       the chord information input means comprising play information input means for inputting playing information and chord detection means for detecting the input chord information from playing information inputted by the play information input means.  
     
     
       5. A voice processor according to claim  4 , wherein the pitch resulting from conversion by said pitch conversion means is a pitch closest to the pitch of the voice signal input to said voice input means out of pitches corresponding to chord composing pitch names of said chord information within a melody range. 
     
     
       6. A voice processor comprising: 
       voice input means for inputting a voice signal having a pitch;  
       chord information input means for inputting a chord having a plurality of pitches;  
       pitch conversion means for converting the input voice signal into a pitch-converted voice signal having a pitch different from the pitch of the input voice signal, the pitch conversion means converting the pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the chord information from the chord information input means and outputting the pitch-converted voice signal, the pitch conversion means converting the input voice signal so that the pitch different from the pitch of the input voice signal is at least one pitch of the plurality of pitches of the inputted chord; and  
       means for combining the pitch-converted voice signal with the input voice signal;  
       the chord information input means comprising play information input means for inputting playing information and chord detection means for detecting the input chord from playing information inputted by the play information input means.  
     
     
       7. A method of voice processing comprising the steps of: 
       picking up a voice as a voice signal;  
       inputting chord information;  
       converting the voice signal into a pitch-converted voice signal having a pitch different from a pitch of the voice signal in accordance with the input chord information; and  
       combining the pitch-converted voice signal with the picked up voice signal to add sound effects thereto;  
       the step of inputting chord information comprising the steps of inputting playing information and detecting the input chord information from the inputted playing information.  
     
     
       8. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing music, the playing information data including data representative of harmony information;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating musical tone signals based upon the playing information data;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the harmony information the pitch converter utilizing a pitch conversion parameter related to a ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch; and    
       
         a circuit for combining the pitch converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal.  
       
     
     
       9. A voice processor according to claim  8 , wherein the playing information generator further provides data representative of chord information as the data representative of harmony information.  
     
     
       10. A voice processor according to claim  8 , wherein the playing information generator further includes: 
       
         a circuit for receiving playing information data; and  
       
       
         a chord detector for detecting chord information based on the input playing information data.  
       
     
     
       11. A voice processor according to claim  8 , wherein the playing information generator further includes a chord information generator for providing sequential chord data based upon a progression of a piece of music, wherein the harmony information includes the chord data.  
     
     
       12. A voice processor according to claim  9 , wherein the chord information includes a sequential progression of chords, the sequential progression of chords being based upon a piece of music, and wherein the pitch converter converts the input voice signal to a pitch- converted voice signal such that the second pitch includes a tone pitch corresponding to a pitch of a chord composing tone of each of the chords in the progression.    
     
     
       13. A voice processor according to claim  12 , wherein the pitch converter includes a tone pitch shifter for shifting the tone pitch of the pitch- converted voice signal within a melody range such that a tone of the pitch - converted voice signal is in harmony with a tone of the input voice signal.    
     
     
       14. A voice processor according to claim  8 , wherein a tone of the pitch converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the musical tone signals generated by the tone generator.  
     
     
       15. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing music, the playing information data including data representative of harmony information, the harmony information having at least one pitch in a time period;  
       
       
         a pitch shifter for shifting a pitch of the harmony information to provide a shifted pitch information signal that is set within a melody range;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch, wherein the second pitch of the pitch - converted voice signal corresponds to the shifted pitch information signal; and    
       
         a circuit for combining the pitch converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal.  
       
     
     
       16. A voice processor according to claim  15 , wherein the harmony information includes chord information.  
     
     
       17. A voice processor according to claim  16 , wherein the chord information includes at least one pitch in a time interval and the pitch shifter shifts a pitch of the chord information to a pitch corresponding to a chord component pitch name of said chord information within a melody range which is closest to the first pitch of the input voice signal.  
     
     
       18. A voice processor according to claim  15 , the voice processor further comprising a tone generator for generating tone signals based on the playing information data.  
     
     
       19. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing music, the playing information data including data representative of harmony information, the harmony information including at least one harmony pitch in a time period within an accompaniment range;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating tone signals based upon the playing information data; and,  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal, the pitch converter utilizing a pitch conversion parameter related to a ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch, and the second pitch of the pitch - converted voice signal corresponding to the at least one harmony pitch, wherein a tone of the pitch converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the signals generated by the tone generator.    
     
     
       20. A voice processor according to claim  19 , wherein the harmony information includes chord information.  
     
     
       21. A voice processor according to claim  20 , wherein the chord information includes a plurality of chord composing pitches in a time period and the at least one harmony pitch is one or more of chord composing pitches of the chord information within an accompaniment range.  
     
     
       22. A voice processor according to claim  19 , the voice processor further comprising a circuit for combining the pitch- converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect to the input voice signal.    
     
     
       23. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a pitch information generator for providing data representative of sequential pitches being sequentially changed in accordance with a progression of a musical piece;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating tone signals based upon the data representative of the sequential pitches;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with at least one of the sequential pitches to provide a pitch - converted voice signal, the pitch converter utilizing a pitch conversion parameter related to a ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch; and    
         a circuit for combining the pitch - converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal.    
     
     
       24. A voice processor according to claim  23 , wherein the pitch information generator provides chord sequence data as the data representative of sequential pitches.  
     
     
       25. A voice processor according to claim  23 , wherein the pitch information generator further includes: 
       
         a circuit for receiving playing information data; and  
       
       
         a chord detector for detecting chord information based on the input playing information data, wherein  
       
       
         the sequential pitches in accordance with the progression of the music piece are based upon the detected chord information.  
       
     
     
       26. A voice processor according to claim  23 , wherein a tone of the pitch- converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the tone signals generated by the tone generator.    
     
     
       27. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a pitch detector for detecting the first pitch of the input voice signal;  
       
       
         a chord information generator for providing chord information data that varies with progression of a musical piece;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating tone signals based upon the chord information data;  
       
       
         a pitch conversion parameter generator for providing a pitch conversion parameter based on the detected first pitch and the chord information data; and  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the pitch conversion parameter to provide a pitch - converted voice signal having the second pitch.    
     
     
       28. A voice processor according to claim  27 , the voice processor further comprising a circuit for combining the pitch converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect to the input voice signal.  
     
     
       29. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the chord information generator further includes: 
       
         a circuit for receiving playing information data; and  
       
       
         a chord detector for detecting chord information based on the playing information data.  
       
     
     
       30. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the chord information generator further includes a chord sequencer for providing a series of chord data as the chord information based upon the progression of the musical piece.  
     
     
       31. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein a tone of the pitch- converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the tone signals generated by the tone generator.    
     
     
       32. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the chord information data includes data representative of at least one chord pitch and the pitch converter further includes a tone pitch shifter for shifting at least one pitch represented by the chord information to within a melody range such that a tone of the pitch- converted voice signal is consonant with the chord information and a melody of the music piece.    
     
     
       33. A voice processor according to claim  30 , wherein the series of chord data is representative of information of a chord- type and a chord - root.    
     
     
       34. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the chord information generator retrieves the chord information data from a memory.  
     
     
       35. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the chord information generator provides the chord information data in response to an instrumental performance.  
     
     
       36. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the pitch conversion parameter represents the second pitch.  
     
     
       37. A voice processor according to claim  36 , wherein the second pitch is within a melody range.  
     
     
       38. A voice processor according to claim  36 , wherein the second pitch is within an accompaniment range.  
     
     
       39. A voice processor according to claim  27 , wherein the pitch conversion parameter generator provides a plurality of pitch conversion parameters, and wherein the pitch converter further includes a plurality of pitch conversion devices, each pitch conversion device converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch in accordance with one of the pitch conversion parameters to provide one of a plurality of pitch- converted voice signals.    
     
     
       40. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
         a chord information terminal for receiving chord information data representative of information for at least one of a chord - type and a chord - root in accordance with a progression of a musical piece;    
         a pitch converter for converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal based on the detected first pitch and the chord information data to provide a pitch - converted voice, signal having the second pitch; and    
       
         a circuit for combining the pitch converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect to the input voice signal.  
       
     
     
       41. A voice processor according to claim  40 , the voice processor further comprising a tone generator for generating tone signals based on the chord information data, wherein a tone of the pitch- converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the tone signals generated by the tone generator.    
     
     
       42. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing music including harmony information, the harmony information varying in accordance with a progression of the music;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating musical tone signals based upon the playing information data;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the harmony information; and    
         a circuit for combining the pitch - converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal, wherein a waveform of the pitch - converted voice signal is made from a waveform of the input voice signal.    
     
     
       43. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing music including harmony information, the harmony information varying in accordance with a progression of the music, wherein the harmony information is set within an accompaniment range;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating tone signals based upon the playing information data; and  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch in accordance with the harmony information, wherein a tone of the pitch - converted voice signal is consonant with tones of the tone signals generated by the tone generator.    
     
     
       44. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a pitch information generator for providing data representative of sequential pitches being sequentially changed in accordance with a progression of a musical piece;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating tone signals based upon the data representative of the sequential pitches;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch in accordance with at least one of the sequential pitches to provide a pitch - converted voice signal; and    
         a circuit for combining the pitch - converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal wherein a waveshape of the pitch - converted voice signal is made of a waveshape of the input voice signal.    
     
     
       45. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a playing information generator for providing playing information data for playing automatic performance music including harmony information, the harmony information varying in accordance with a progression of the automatic performance music;  
       
       
         a tone generator for generating musical tone signals based upon the playing information data;  
       
         a pitch converter for converting the input voice signal to a pitch - converted voice signal having a second pitch different from the first pitch of the input voice signal in accordance with the harmony information; and    
         a circuit for combining the pitch - converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal wherein a waveshape of the pitch - converted voice signal is made of a waveshape of the input voice signal.    
     
     
       46. A voice processor comprising: 
       
         a circuit for receiving a voice signal having a first pitch;  
       
       
         a pitch detector for detecting the first pitch of the input voice signal;  
       
         a chord information terminal for receiving chord information data representative of information for at least one of a chord - type and a chord - root in accordance with a progression of a musical piece;    
         a pitch converter for converting the first pitch of the input voice signal to a second pitch different from the first pitch in accordance with the chord information data to provide a pitch - converted voice signal having the second pitch; and    
         a circuit for combining the pitch - converted voice signal with the input voice signal to provide a sound effect imparted to the input voice signal, wherein a waveform of the pitch - converted voice signal is made from a waveform of the input voice signal.