Audio Intro tour: Texture as Timbre     

This class shows how sine waves can be overlayed to combine timbral and textual effect.
This creates a psudeo additive synthesis result.

To hear the result download the MP3 file below.

WaveformExample8.mp3 [500K]

View / Download source

Lets have a closer look. 

import jm.music.data.*; import jm.JMC; import jm.audio.*; import jm.util.*;   // this class uses multiple parts with one timbre   public class WaveformExample8 implements JMC { public static void main(String[] args) { new WaveformExample8(); } public WaveformExample8() {   // make the jmusic score Part part0 = new Part("Multiple Sine waves", 0); Score score = new Score(part0); for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) { part0.addPhrase(makeAPhrase()); } // set up audio instrument Instrument sine = new SlowSineInst(22000); // add instruments to an instrument array Instrument[] ensemble = {sine}; //display score View.show(score); // render audio file of the score Write.au(score, "WaveformExample8.au", ensemble); } // a method called from the loop above public Phrase makeAPhrase() { Phrase melody = new Phrase(); melody.setStartTime(Math.random() * 4); for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { Note n = new Note( (int)(Math.random() * 127), Math.random()* 4 + 4.0, (int)(Math.random() * 90 + 30)); n.setPan(Math.random()); melody.addNote(n); } return melody; } }

An interesting musical result does not need to have a complex audio instrument, and this example shows that even simple instruments
such as a sine wave can be useful with appropriate scores.

The sine wave is the basis of textual spectra, and synthesis techniques such as additive synthesis rely on multiple sine waves
to create complex timbres. This program plays on this psychoacoustic effect by laying multiple sinewaves as multiple phrases in a score.
As the piece progresses sine wave notes overlap in ever-changing relationships which results in an evolving overall timbre.
As well tones that are close together produces beating effects that add to the timbral mix.
This is a simple example of how jMusic composition can blur the distinction between score and sound, in this case between texture and timbre.

In order to accentuate the effect, a sine wave instrument with a slow attack and decay is used; the SlowSineInst class.<

The score is made up of 8 phrases each added to the one part.

		for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
			part0.addPhrase(makeAPhrase());
		}

The makeAPhrase() method generates notes of random pitch, rhythmValue, and start time,
which guarantees an unpredictable and ever changing texture.

Instrument sine = new SlowSineInst(22000);

Just the one instrument and one part is used. Simple but (hopefully you will agree) effective.