StrataSynch

This is the download site for StrataSynch. StrataSynch is a tool for musical composition based upon techniques presented in Joseph Schillinger's Schillinger System of Musical Composition. For readers familiar with the Schillinger System of Musical Composition, StrataSynch combines techniques from

• Book I-Chapter 8 Coordination of Time Structures
• Book V The Special Theory of Harmony
• Book VIII Instrumental Forms

After the user enters parameters into StrataSynch(Click here to view the StrataSynch manual), StrataSynch performs the following operations to generate a musical pattern.

• Generates a 4 part harmony(hybrid 4 part S1p+S3p).
• Duplicates this generated 4 part harmony into strata layers(upto 4 allowed)
• Synchronizes and distributes an entered rhythm across the generated strata(places of attack).
• Generates a final musical pattern in ABC song description language.

This is a limited version of StrataSynch. The goals for its distribution are to

• Give people some exposure to some of Schillinger's techniques.
• Prompt feedback from you on the software and how it can be improved(including possible addition of features).
• Give me a sense if there is a market for such software.

I think its features are nevertheless powerful. They include

• 5 chord structures(major,minor,augmented,diminished,and 7th(Type I)
• 4 scales(major, melodic minor, harmonic minor, pentatonic(blues)
• 4 basic determinants(2 thru 5)
• Upto 4 strata allowed. 1 stratum may have an independent rhythm from other 3.
• Each stratum may have its own midi sound(subject to user's midi player and sound library)
• Control of dynamics(Each beat can be assigned a loud,soft,medium level)
• Output is textual and can be easily edited and can be integrated into compositions. In addition, there are a wealth of utilities/software for modifying/converting ABC notation.

I am developing a more powerful version of StrataSynch with the following features slated for inclusion.

• Increased number of strata
• More harmonic scales(for Type I and Type II progressions)
• Increased selection of chord structures including the sigma structures(as defined in Book VI Correlation of Harmony and Melody)
• Increased selection of determinants

Requirements

StrataSynch's output is the textual music language ABC. As such, additional utilites are required to play and/or view the output in musical notation. The latest installer provides binaries of these various utilities which can be installed with StrataSynch. All of these are GNU versions . I have provided links to all of them so you may learn more about them etc.

• Windows XP with a soundcard
• An ABC to Midi converter to convert output from StrataSynch to MIDI
• An ABC to Postscript converter to convert output from StrataSynch to Postscript
• A MIDI Player to play MIDI files
• Timidity and other soft synths require a soundfont library.
• A Postscript interpreter/converter which converts Postscript files to specfic device/output. In this case, Postscript to pdf.
• A pdf reader such as Adobe. This is not provided but is readily available.

User Knowledge

Installation

• Windows XP
  1. Download the Native Executable for Windows XP. As noted earlier, this installer contains supporting GNU utilities for playing and viewing StrataSynch's output(provided a pdf reader is installed on your system.) This installs and runs like a normal Windows program. After downloading this file, run it and it will guide you thru installation.
  2. OPTIONAL This should not be necessary but for those who are interested...:Configure StrataSynch
  3. Run StrataSynch. Press F1 to bring up help.

References

Eskelin, Gerald The Sounds of Music. Woodland Hills: Stage 3 Publishing 1998

Schillinger, Joseph The Schillinger System of Musical Composition
		Harwich Port: Clock and Rose Press 2004

Contact Information