An Exploration of Real-Time Visualizations of Musical Timbre
Kai Siedenburg · 2009
This study explores real-time visualizations of timbre-related audio features using the music programming environment Max/MSP/Jitter. Following the approach of exploratory data-analysis, we present a palette of different visualization techniques, each one providing a different perspective on the feature-data. Additionally, we introduce a simple notion of timbral similarity, which can be used in real-time performance situations. The visualizations are further used to inform the control of audio effects by feature trajectories. Finally, we present a brief analysis of a section of Gerard Grisey’s Modulations, which aims to combine score oriented methods with acoustical analysis of recordings. An Exploration of Real-Time Visualizations of Musical Timbre