XronoMorph: Algorithmic Generation of Perfectly Balanced and Well-Formed Rhythms

Andrew J. Milne, Steffen A. Herff, David Bulger, William A. Sethares, and Roger T. Dean

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

We present an application XronoMorph for the algorithmic generation of rhythms in the context of creative composition and performance, and of musical analysis and education. XronoMorph makes use of visual and geometrical conceptualizations of rhythms, and allows the user to smoothly morph between rhythms. Sonification of the user generated geometrical constructs is possible using a built-in sampler, VST and AU plugins, or standalone synthesizers via MIDI. The algorithms are based on two underlying mathematical principles: perfect balance and well-formedness, both of which can be derived from coefficients of the discrete Fourier transform of the rhythm. The mathematical background, musical implications, and their implementation in the software are discussed.

Citation:

Andrew J. Milne, Steffen A. Herff, David Bulger, William A. Sethares, and Roger T. Dean. 2016. XronoMorph: Algorithmic Generation of Perfectly Balanced and Well-Formed Rhythms. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1176082

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{Milne2016,
 abstract = {We present an application XronoMorph for the
algorithmic generation of rhythms in the context of creative composition and
performance, and of musical analysis and education. XronoMorph makes use of
visual and geometrical conceptualizations of rhythms, and allows the user to
smoothly morph between rhythms. Sonification of the user generated geometrical
constructs is possible using a built-in sampler, VST and AU plugins, or
standalone synthesizers via MIDI. The algorithms are based on two underlying
mathematical principles: perfect balance and well-formedness, both of which can
be derived from coefficients of the discrete Fourier transform of the rhythm. The
mathematical background, musical implications, and their implementation in the
software are discussed.},
 address = {Brisbane, Australia},
 author = {Andrew J. Milne and Steffen A. Herff and David Bulger and William A. Sethares and Roger T. Dean},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1176082},
 isbn = {978-1-925455-13-7},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 pages = {388--393},
 publisher = {Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University},
 title = {XronoMorph: Algorithmic Generation of Perfectly Balanced and Well-Formed Rhythms},
 track = {Papers},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2016/nime2016_paper0077.pdf},
 year = {2016}
}