A MIDI sequencer that widens access to the compositional possibilities of novel tunings

2012

We present a new Dynamic Tonality MIDI sequencer, Hex, that aims to make sequencing music in and across a large variety of novel tunings as straightforward as sequencing in twelve-tone equal temperament. It replaces the piano roll used in conventional MIDI sequencers with a two-dimensional lattice roll in order to enable the intuitive visualization and dynamic manipulation of tuning.\ud \ud In conventional piano roll sequencers, a piano keyboard is displayed on the left side of the window, and white and black note lanes extend horizontally to the right, into which a user can draw a sequence of notes. Similarly, in Hex, a button lattice is displayed in its own pane on the left side of the wi…

Spectral tools for Dynamic Tonality and audio morphing

2009

Computer Music Journal Spectral Tools for Dynamic Tonality and Audio Morphing William Sethares sethares@ece.wisc.edu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA. Andrew Milne andymilne@tonalcentre.org, Department of Music, P.O. Box 35, 40014, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. Stefan Tiedje Stefan-Tiedje@addcom.de, CCMIX, Paris, France. Anthony Prechtl aprechtl@gmail.com, Department of Music, P.O. Box 35, 40014, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. James Plamondon jim@thumtronics.com, CEO, Thumtronics Inc., 6911 Thistle Hill Way, Austin, TX 78754 USA

New tonalities with the Thummer and The Viking

2008

In this paper we explain the theoretical background of Dynamic Tonality using the Thummer, a new musical interface, and The Viking, a software synthesizer written especially for it. Dynamic Tonality is a musical audio routine that allows for novel tunings and enables the user to relate – to an arbitrary degree – these tunings with the partials of their notes. The Viking features Dynamic Tonality and works with any MIDI instrument, but when paired with the Thummer (or another two-dimensional interface) it creates a system of fingering invariance across chords and tunings. Thus, the Thummer and The Viking render non-standard tunings more physically, pedagogically, and aesthetically accessible.

Musically-induced emotional peaks

2009