DaqMusic and KaleidoSynth

DaqMusic: Free music... forever!

Scroll down for examples...

Both of these use the Pitch Tracker to extract the instantaneous pitch of a signal, and Pitch-to-MIDI to convert it to MIDI sound.

KaleidoSynth is the audio equivalent of a kaleidoscope. The Pitch Tracker determines the input note pitch, but the Pitch-to-MIDI converter is set up to convert it to an instrument sound at a different note... which goes around again and again, changing each time. Setting the nature and amount of difference allows for a huge variety of "performances", from peaceful background music to edgy jazz. And careful selection of the Track threshold and frequency range allows audience interaction!

DaqMusic skips the feedback and just uses random or semirandom values in place of a real acoustic input. It doesn't interact with its environment like KaleidoSynth, but it's much easier to use (since you don't need to mess around with microphones and thresholds). Best of all, it's absolutely free! (KaleidoSynth requires Input access, which expires after the trial period unless you purchase Daqarta .)

After download and installation, start Daqarta and wait for the "logoship" animation to complete. A message will pop up telling you to hit the 'F8' key, then 'd', to start DaqMusic. A standard Windows File Open dialog will appear; hit Escape (or click Cancel or [x]) and Symphonic.DQM (see below) will start playing. Alternatively, open a file and then click Pitch to MIDI On/Off near the top of the Pitch-to-MIDI dialog that appears. As always in Daqarta, right-click any control to see its Help topic.

DaqMusic and KaleidoSynth allow you to explore musical frontiers, the borderlands between order and chaos that comprise music. You may be surprised at just how little order is needed to transform mayhem into music!

A typical DaqMusic or KaleidoSynth performance continues indefinitely, often with a characteristic style but never exactly repeating. You start with a general instrument setup, then use a Changes script to shape the performance: Create and explore musical themes, build excitement, add variety... it's up to you.

Sample MIDI Recordings:

The following are conventional MIDI (.MID) recordings that you can play from your browser, using your default music player. Each was created using the MIDI Record option in the Pitch-to-MIDI dialog to capture a short section (about 30-60 seconds) from a performance of the indicated Daqarta MIDI setup (.DQM file). An actual performance from within Daqarta goes on for as long as you want, continually changing.

All recordings are DaqMusic, except as noted where a KaleidoSynth version is included for comparison. A link to a discussion of each .DQM setup is provided, which covers relevant Pitch Track and Pitch-to-MIDI control setting and shows the full Changes script.

Caution: These examples are intended to be played over speakers. They include dynamic panning that can be quite disconcerting over headphones.

Play Symphonic (33 KB)
Discussion of Symphonic.DQM setup.
Acoustic Grand Piano and Tremelo Strings in Pentatonic Major scale.

Play PercBlue (45 KB)
Discussion of PercBlue.DQM setup.
Electric Guitar - Jazz and Electric Bass - Pick in Blues Minor scale, plus 6 different Percussion instruments with changing patterns.

Play Cowboy (8 KB)
Discussion of Cowboy.DQM setup.
Acoustic Grand Piano on lead and Acoustic Guitar - Nylon on rhythm, both in Blues Major scale, with Side Stick and Acoustic Snare on percussion. Occasional Tremelo Strings background in Pentatonic Major scale. The guitar uses a standard Blues progression.

Play Peaceful - Kaleidosynth (35 KB)
Play Peaceful - DaqMusic (43 KB)
Discussion of Peaceful.DQM setup.
Orchestral Harp in Pentatonic Major scale.

Play HornTalk - KaleidoSynth (39 KB)
Play HornTalk - DaqMusic (27 KB)
Discussion of HornTalk.DQM setup.
English Horn, sounds like chattering or muttering voices. (Comical, not musical.) The KaleidoSynth version has pauses, while the DaqMusic version is non-stop. During the actual KaleidoSynth performance, you can control the pause tendency by adjusting the output or microphone levels: Softer output or lower sensitivity makes it more likely to pause; higher makes it more non-stop.

Play TimPanic - KaleidoSynth (37 KB)
Play TimPanic - DaqMusic (30 KB)
Discussion of TimPanic.DQM setup.
Timpani in Chromatic scale to produce an intense percussion performance. The KaleidoSynth version has occasional pauses, while the DaqMusic performance is more fast and furious.

Play Edgy - KaleidoSynth (35 KB)
Play Edgy - DaqMusic (31 KB)
Discussion of Edgy.DQM setup.
Three voices of Tremelo Strings in Chromatic scale give an "edgy jazz" sound reminiscent of 1960s grade "B" detective movies. The KaleidoSynth version has "dramatic pauses" that could be enhanced during actual performance by decreasing the output level or input sensitivity.

Play Mournful (48 KB)
Discussion of Mournful.DQM setup.
Tenor Sax and Electric Bass - Pick in Major scale.

Play JukeBox (77 KB)
Discussion of JukeBox.DQM setup.
This Juke Box has a selection of 4 billion songs! It plays a series of simple instrument solos, each using a random instrument and playing a short (about 15 seconds) composition using random velocity and note patterns and a simple AABABA algorithm to define the theme. Everything is changed for each new "song". The example here includes 4 different songs.

Please note that this setup uses a very simple approach. This is intended as a demonstration of the concept... you are encouraged to use it to begin your own explorations. See the Discussion for some ideas to get you started.

Due to the randomness (and simplicity of the algorithm), JukeBox produces a wide variation between songs... most are not worth hearing again, but occasionally you may find a "keeper". A "song number" and the instrument name are shown during the actual DaqMusic performance, allowing you to repeat the song exactly if you use the song number as the random seed.

Here is an assortment of "singles", with seed number and instrument. Each is about 15 seconds in length (about 20 KB).

Play hE5F8A8AB - Choir Aahs
Play h66F5007F - Banjo
Play h730668F7 - FX 5 - Brightness
Play h139664BB - Charang
Play h36C30508 - Synth Pad 4 - Choir
Play h90F36653 - FX 3 - Crystal
Play hF3FB26D7 - Electric Bass - Finger
Play h7CD854B7 - Electric Bass - Pick
Play hEC0D2B97 - FX 7 - Echoes
Play h7BE9139F - Hammond Organ
Play h9EB240C3 - Orchestral Harp
Play hAA6B0287 - Kalimba
Play h5F655F0F - Koto
Play hB6292347 - Marimba
Play h9FE37F4B - Music Box
Play h81CB798B - Synth Pad 1 - New Age
Play h9AA0C2F3 - Synth Pad 1 - New Age
Play h0DF2F0CB - Voice Oohs
Play h543DDE3F - Orchestra Hit
Play h3D67B42B - Percussive Organ
Play h779CA3CB - Pizzicato Strings
Play hEC5AED6F - FX 1 - Rain
Play h27682F48 - Rhodes Piano
Play hA874DB4F - Synth Lead 2 - Sawtooth
Play h427A7247 - Shamisen
Play hC0AA068B - Shanai
Play hF63B2057 - Slap Bass 1
Play h03EBDCE3 - Taiko Drum
Play hC92C966B - Tinkle Bell
Play hACA2F4E7 - Trumpet
Play h43EAAC37 - Woodblock

Traditional Songs with Variations:

Unlike the above, the following are conventional songs stored as Note , Chord , and Velocity Patterns. The Daqarta performances repeat endlessly, with variations provided by Changes scripts to maintain interest.

Play FrJacques (65 KB)
Discussion of FrJacques.DQM setup.
The traditional song "Frere Jacques" (also known as "Brother John") that is often sung in "rounds". Here there are 4 different instrument voices in the rotation, with a new instrument replacing an old every 32 beats.

Play Joshua (35 KB)
Discussion of Joshua.DQM setup.
The traditional song "Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho". Random instruments are used for the melody and chord voices, one of which is changed every 8 beats. Percussion (Side Stick and Acoustic snare) are toggled on or off every 64 beats.

Play Saints (35 KB)
Discussion of Saints.DQM setup.
Traditional song "When The Saints Go Marching In". Random instruments and percussion toggling similar to Joshua, but here the percussion instruments are also selected at random.