DIA

DIA: Do It A Cappella

Idea / Premise

• a visual feedback system for a cappella singers to use alone or together as an ensemble
• a learning tool to train the voice and the ears

Motivation

• a large population of amateur a cappella singers who lack the necessary ear training to effectively self-correct
• the need for an objective method of performance evaluation to eliminate confusion over "who's hearing it right"
• a desire to explore basic real-time audio information retrieval techniques

What is DIA?

• an application for the real-time visualization of musical properties of one or more singers
• a network application allowing multiple singers to use laptops to see personalized visualizations provided by a host computer
• a vocal training application providing both real-time visualization of error and post-performance reports of achievement statistics
• a music learning tool for people who can't read music

Design

• audio input will all be into one host computer
• networked client computers will be able to receive channel-specific customized visualizations via OSC
• performance error will be calculated with respect to user-provided midis of arrangements
• pitch information will be determined by implementing a version of the YIN pitch detection algorithm
• tonal/vowel information be provided by fft visualizations

Testing

• the harmonics, a stanford a cappella group, will be able to put DIA through comprehensive, rigorous testing
• effectiveness of execution will be judged based on the final product's ability to provide accurate and useful visual feedback to the user

Team

• the DIA team is comprised of charlie forkish and jay bhat

Milestones

• DATE 1: 11/18 - accurate and robust implementation of YIN pitch detection algorithm with one input and playback of midi files
• DATE 2: 11/25 - support for multiple inputs, polished visual feedback provided to client computers over network
• DATE 3: 12/4 - tone evaluation and achievement statistics report card