LATEST
Arpeggiate functionlity, note modifications, save files, labels, and loop playback.
DESCRIPTION
String-based MIDI composition written in Java. Modeled after how I personally create music, but there are applications for a lot of people.
SAVE PROJECT
Projects can be saved and opened again from the midi builder. These files have the .jzp file extension.
FORMAT
Properly formatted chords should be separated with a | . Pressing space in JZODD automatically will create a bar for you, unless a repeat (x 2, x 3, etc...) or ) is detected.
Rhythms can be [seqhwSEQHW], with lowercase letters representing note values, and uppercase ones representing rests. Letters of same case can be joined with a + so long as total value doesn't equal w+w (currently all note values use bytes, and w+w == 128, which a byte can't hold). Rhythms should use a : to denote a chord change. Number of changes and number of chords must be equal!
Chords and rhythm can both be wrapped in parenthesis and repeated, as well as individual lines.
ex. Ebmaj7/Ab:3^^ | Abmaj7:3 | x 2 (Ebmaj7/Ab:3^^ | Abmaj7:3 | x 2 Cmin7/F:4 | Fmin7:3^^ | x 2) x 2
wW:qqQQ: x 2 (eeEeEessSsQq+q:w: x 2 w:w: x 2) x 2
Specific chord tones on the right/left hand can be voiced with curly braces after the rhtyhm value. Values over or under the total number of chord tones will default to just the full chord.
ex. w{1}:w{2}:w{3}: / (lowest note for inversion to second lowest to third lowest)
Note modifications on left hand in bass mode will modify bass note by however many semitones.
ex. w{-5}:w{10}:w{15}:
CHORDS AND QUALITY
Chords can be defined with any root A-G, # | b, and with maj, min, aug, dim, sus2, and sus4 qualities. No quality defined is the same as maj.
ex. Cmin | Dbaug | Gmaj | Fdim | A |
EXTENSIONS AND COLOR
Extensions 7-13 in all of the usual places (no 8, 10, or 12). Maximum of 2 colors able to be defined and can be from 5-13 in usual places. Exceptions are in place and will output to canvas if chords or rhythm would produce malformed MIDI or are just illogical (such as a G#9b9 chord). Major quality + 7th will voice a major 7th, but any other quality will voice a dominant 7th.
ex. Cmin7 | Dbaug6#9 | Gmaj9b5 | Fdim11#13b9 | A13b11#5 |
BASS VOICING
Bass voicing can be defined with a slash after the chord body. No defined voicing will default to the closest root note below the lowest chord tone.
ex. Cmin7/G | Dbaug6#9/E | Gmaj9b5 | Fdim11#13b9/A | A13b11#5/Gb |
OCTAVE AND INVERSION
Octave and inversion ranges from A0 - C8. Outside the range will result in an exception. No octave defined will default to 4. Inversions are variable depending on number of chord tones. Some tones get removed depending on the extension in order to avoid dissonant intervals.
if (this.extension == 7 || this.extension == 6) {
if (this.inversion > 3) {
throw new InvalidInversionException();
}
} else if (this.extension == 9) {
if (this.inversion > 4) {
throw new InvalidInversionException();
}
} else if (this.extension > 11) {
if (this.inversion > 5) {
throw new InvalidInversionException();
}
} else {
if (this.inversion > 2) {
throw new InvalidInversionException();
}
}
ex. Cmin7/G:4^^^ | Dbaug6#9/E:^^^ | Gmaj9b5:^^^^ | Fdim11#13b9/A:7^ | A13b11#5/Gb:3 |
ARPEGGIATIONS
Arpeggiations starting at lowest chord tone are in place. Default note value is eight note, but others can be defined. If the number of arpeggiated notes summed is less than the parent note value, then the last played note is held for the remainder of the duration. Else an exception is thrown.
ex. w#3#:w#8#:q#4s#:h#2q#:
LABELS
Labels can be created in the label editor. Simply type a header, and put the body of whatever you want in square brackets. Click save to save the current label in the editor, and delete to delete whatever label is in the ComboBox.
ex. test: [ w:qqqq:h{3}: x 2]
chords: [(Abmaj7 | Dmin6 | x 2) x 4]
LOOP
Press loop to have whatever you have currently defined to be played back to you in a loop! Instrument can be defined in the combobox next to it.
FUTURE WORK
Performance tweaks, smarter extended chord voicings, more arp modes, figuring out how to load saved labels in an exported jar, and midi to jzodd conversion...