Final Year Thesis Project: Elastic Audio
Elastic Audio is a program I designed and built as part of my final year thesis project. It allows the user to import any recorded monophonic audio file, such as a vocal performance, saxophone riff or flute part. The audio file is then analysed for note timing and information, extracting precisely which notes the performer played and at what point.
The user is then presented with a screen displaying all of the notes played, and a suite of tools with which the user may edit the performance.
You can use it to fix wrong notes, alter notes completely, change note lengths, and create vocal harmonies.
Using Elastic Audio
Elastic Audio is a product designed to allow the quick and easy editing of any monophonic material in an entirely new, intuitive and above all musical manner. The program allows the user to import any recorded monophonic audio file, such as a vocal performance, saxophone riff or flute part. The audio file is then analysed for note timing and information, extracting precisely which notes the performer played and at what point. The user is then presented with a screen displaying all of the notes played, and a suite of tools with which the user may edit the performance.
A wrong note in a musical phrase can be corrected simply by dragging that note to the correct pitch, a note that was played the wrong length can be shortened easily with a few mouse clicks. Notes that have been sung or played out of tune can be fixed in seconds without affecting correct neighbouring it. Entirely new melodies can be created in seconds from existing audio files, wreserving the essential ‘feel’ of the sound. Complete four-part harmonies can be quickly created from a single vocal line, without any need for multiple recordings. In short, Elastic Audio offers unlimited creative potential for any musician working with monophonic recorded sound on a computer.
You can read my full thesis which details how the program was designed and built by downloading the pdf
Examples - Instrumental
The instrument example I used for my presentation was a short trumpet melody.
This is the original:
And here are two edited versions:
Examples - Vocal Harmonies
It is also possible to create harmonies from a single vocal line. Here's an example of an except from 'Unpretty' by TLC
And here is a four part harmony version created using Elastic Audio:
