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

• US 7,512,246 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ishida, Kenji, Miki, Akira, Nishitani, Yoshiki, Miyazawa, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kurr; Jason R
• Application Number:
  US10/834,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 381/27, 381/119, 381/1, 381/17, 381/61, 381/18, 381/19, 381/310, 846/00, 846/26, 846/58, 846/25, 446/397, 463/35
• US Class Current: 381/119
• 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 plurality of speakers, comprising:

an arranging step of arranging the plurality of speakers; 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 as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the number of the plurality of speakers is smaller than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources.

3. A stereo sounding method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the number of the plurality of speakers is smaller than twice the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources;

in said mixing output step, the mixing result is output to at least two adjacent speakers of the arranaed speakers; and

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 method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the number of the plurality of speakers corresponds to the number of the plurality of stereo sound sources,

in said arranging step, the plurality of speakers are arranged in a substantially circular array,

in said mixing output step, the mixing result is output to each of the arranged plurality of speakers, and

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.

5. A stereo sounding system comprising:

a plurality of stereo sound sources;

a plurality of speakers; and

at least one mixing apparatus that is connected to said plurality of stereo sound sources and said plurality of speakers such that said at least one 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.

6. A stereo sounding system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said plurality of stereo sound sources are comprised of first to nth stereo sound sources where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2;

said at least one mixing apparatus is comprised of first to nth mixing apparatuses;

said plurality of speakers are comprised of first to nth speakers arranged in ascending order in a substantially circular array;

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 the mixing result to the nth speaker.

7. A stereo sounding system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the number of said plurality of speakers corresponds to said number of the plurality of stereo sound sources and said plurality of speakers are arranged in a substantially circular array;

said mixing apparatus outputs the mixing results to one of said at least one 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

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.

8. 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, 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.

9. A musical tone generation control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the number of said plurality of speakers corresponds to said number of the plurality of stereo sound sources and said plurality of speakers are arranged in a substantially circular array;

said mixing apparatus outputs the mixing result to the 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

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.