Stereo sounding method, stereo sounding system, and musical tone generation control system

• US 20040213412A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ishida, Kenji, Miki, Akira, Nishitani, Yoshiki, Miyazawa, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A stereo sounding method which can provide realistic sounds such as stereo sounds for a large number of listeners while reducing the number of speakers. A stereo sounding system is comprised of a plurality of stereo sound sources, and a plurality of speakers. A smaller number of speakers than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources are arranged, and an R-channel output from at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source are mixed, and the mixing result is output to at least one of the arranged speakers.

Claims

1. A stereo sounding method for a stereo sounding system which comprises a plurality of stereo sound sources, and a smaller number of speakers than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources, comprising:

an arranging step of arranging a smaller number of speakers than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources; and

a mixing output step of mixing an R-channel output from at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source, and outputting a mixing result to at least one of the arranged speakers.

2. A stereo sounding method for a stereo sounding system which comprises a plurality of stereo sound sources, and a smaller number of speakers than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources, comprising:

an arranging step of arranging a smaller number of speakers than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources; and

a mixing output step of mixing an R-channel output from at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source, and outputting a mixing result to two adjacent speakers among the arranged speakers;

wherein said mixing output step comprises carrying out mixing such that the R-channel output and an L-channel output from the at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources are output from the two adjacent speakers, respectively.

3. A stereo sounding method for a stereo sounding system which comprises a plurality of stereo sound sources, and a plurality of speakers corresponding in number to the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources, comprising:

an arranging step of arranging the plurality of speakers in a substantially circular array;

a mixing output step of mixing an R-channel output from one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the one stereo sound source, and outputting a mixing result to each of the arranged plurality of speakers;

wherein said mixing output step comprises carrying out mixing such that an R-channel output and an L-channel output from each stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources are output from two adjacent speakers of the arranged plurality of speakers, respectively.

4. A stereo sounding system comprising:

a plurality of stereo sound sources;

a plurality of speakers corresponding in number to the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources; and

a mixing apparatus that is connected to said plurality of stereo sound sources and said plurality of speakers such that said mixing apparatus mixes an R-channel output from at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source, and outputs a mixing result to a speaker connected to the at least one stereo sound source and the stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source;

wherein said plurality of speakers are arranged in a substantially circular array, and said mixing apparatus carries out mixing such that an R-channel output and an L-channel output from each stereo sound source of said plurality of stereo sound sources are output from two adjacent speakers of said plurality of speakers, respectively.

5. A stereo sounding system comprising:

first to nth stereo sound sources where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2;

first to nth mixing apparatuses; and

first to nth speakers arranged in ascending order in a substantially circular array;

wherein said first to nth mixing apparatuses are connected to said first to nth stereo sound sources and said first to nth speakers such that, where k is a natural number equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or smaller than (n−

1), a kth mixing apparatus mixes an R-channel output from a kth stereo sound source and an L-channel output from a (k+1)th stereo sound source, and outputs a mixing result to the kth speaker, and the nth mixing apparatus mixes an R-channel output from the nth stereo sound source and an L-channel output from the first stereo sound source, and outputs a mixing result to the nth speaker.

6. A musical tone generation control system comprising:

an operating terminal capable of being carried by an operator, comprising a generating device that detects motion of said operating terminal caused by motion of the operator and generates motion information, and a transmitting device that transmits the motion information; and

a musical tone generating apparatus comprising a receiving device that receives the motion information, and a stereo sounding device that sounds a stereo sound based on the motion information received by said receiving device;

wherein said stereo sounding device comprises a plurality of stereo sound sources, a plurality of speakers arranged in a substantially circular array and corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of stereo sound sources, and a mixing apparatus that is connected to said plurality of stereo sound sources and said plurality of speakers such that said mixing apparatus mixes an R-channel output from at least one stereo sound source among the plurality of stereo sound sources and an L-channel output from a stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source, and outputs a mixing result to a speaker connected to the at least one stereo sound source and the stereo sound source other than the at least one stereo sound source; and

wherein said mixing apparatus carries out mixing such that an R-channel output and an L-channel output from each stereo sound source of said plurality of stereo sound sources are output from two adjacent speakers of said plurality of speakers, respectively.

7. A stereo sounding method for a stereo sounding system which comprises at least 2n (n≧

2) speakers, and one stereo sound source comprising an L-channel and an R-channel, wherein the at least 2n (n≧

2) speakers are connected to the L-channel or the R-channel of the one stereo sound source, comprising;

a step of arranging the at least 2n (n≧

2) speakers at substantially regular intervals and in a substantially circular array; and

a step of connecting one speaker among the at least 2n (n≧

2) speakers and at least one speaker adjacent to the one speaker to channels of the one stereo sound source such that the channels to which the one speaker and the at least one speaker adjacent to the one speaker are connected are different.

8. A stereo sounding method according to claim 7, wherein said arranging step comprises arranging the plurality of speakers at substantially regular intervals along a moving route of a listener.