Backing chorus mixing device and karaoke system incorporating said device

A karaoke system which generates music having a backing chorus including instrumental and vocal music comprising:

• a backing chorus mixing device having music reproduction means for inputting music data created in accordance with the MIDI standard and generating reproduction music data in accordance with said music data,
• memory means for storing a plurality of backing chorus patterns converted to control data form not on the MIDI standard by breaking down and organizing each of said backing chorus patterns for a particular piece of music data into appropriate segments,
• chorus data reading means for inputting the reproduction music data and control data, and subsequently reading all the control data for the piece of music corresponding to said music data out of the memory means,
• chorus data mixing means for accepting the output of the chorus data reading means, synchronizing said chorus data with the music reproduction data, and selecting the specified chorus patterns one by one and mixing them into the music;
• a center and a plurality of terminals connected to said center through the medium of a telephone line;
• said center including a modem connected to the telephone line, a host computer connected to said modem, and a main memory device which is connected to the host computer and which stores said reproduction music data and said control data;
• each of said terminals including a modem connected to the telephone line, a main reading device connected to said modem and which reads the music data and control data, and a decoder connected to said main reading device and to said backing chorus mixing device and which decodes said music data and control data;
• and
• in which said control data starts from the backing chorus selection signal, which functions as its ID, said control data containing chorus numbers, which occur one by one during the course of the music in the same order in which the chorus patterns are required, and said control data also containing chorus start signals, which are inserted at the points where the reproduction of each of said chorus patterns is to begin.