Microtonal Spiral Piano

(shih1.github.io)

41 points | by phoenix_ashes 5 days ago

7 comments

  • phoenix_ashes 5 days ago
    inspired from a few years of travel, i built something that aims to bridge the gap between modern western music with historical and global tunings.

    the modern western mode of 12 Tones Equal Temperament (12-TET) is the default and likely the one you are most familiar with. once comfortable with the ui, i recommend exploring other N-TET versions to see what what harmonies your intuition guides you towards!

    to better help you understand these N-TET modes, there is a 2D geometric visualizer that will computes the geometric shape of your chord and match it against common chord classes (major, minor, 7ths, 9ths, etc.)

    the 2D version uses a realtime 2D convex hull algo.

    there is also a 3D Tower version that hacks around the 3D convex hull algo (looks accurate but not accurate)

    there is also some basic synth sound design implemented as well.

    please enjoy!

    ~yoshih

  • throwawayk7h 2 hours ago
    If anyone is unclear on how to switch to microtonal mode (okay, if you're pendantic, "xenharmonic" would be the right term), use the gear at the top-right and change the Tuning system from 12-TET to something else.
  • observationist 2 hours ago
    It's unusable on mobile browsers - centers the page, can't scroll left or right.

    On desktop it's awesome. Very cool!

    • xnx 35 minutes ago
      Almost fits in horizontal layout, but not quite.
  • xnx 1 hour ago
    Very delightful even just to run a finger back and forth across a row on the keyboard.

    Why doesn't clicking on the key spiral trigger the same visualization in the right panel that using the keyboard does?

    I wonder if "shift" would be a good modifier to some of the key behavior (reverb?)

  • gatkinso 2 hours ago
    Very cool. May i suggest making the keys pizza-slice-shaped so they are slightly easier to press?
  • 29athrowaway 2 hours ago
    I played this piano and it reminded me of Twilight Zone (1959).
  • zahlman 3 hours ago
    This should be in Show HN.