About Musical Parameters
A flash card like web app that presents sets of parameters each with a current value selected from
several possibilities. Buttons allow the selected value for each parameter to be randomly selected, both individually or all at
once. In addition, each value can be manually selected.
Options for how each value is selected include: from all values, using all values once, or locked.
Online audio files can be played with a filename specified by the selected values.
A simple media player is provided with pause and speed controls.
Youtube videos can also be played with a video specified per value.
Plus, a text note is can be displayed based on the current selected values.
Musical Parameters uses configuration files to specify the sets of parameters and values, media files, YouTube videos and notes.
These files can be online and specified in the URL or loaded from the local file system.
The yaml format is used in an attempt to be
human friendly, but it is still a fairly technical language (see examples below).
To keep file locations out of online files the base URL of media files can be passed in the URL query string.
Originally designed to generate random musical parameters for practicing, composing etc. in response to a request by
Al Swainger.
However, it should be generally useful.
Operating Notes
- Load parameters Configuration files located on the web can be specified with a "?file=https://..../filename.yaml" at the end of the app
URL.
Alternatively, local files can be loaded using the "Load" link. The contents of the last loaded file will be
remembered unless overridden in the URL.
If the file is edited simply reload it.
See the examples below for the file format.
- Select set If multiple sets of parameters are available, choose one by clicking on the name at the left in the top row.
Select a random set using 🔄 to the right of the set name selector.
- Pick random values Generate a new selection of values for all parameters with 🔄 icon button at the right of the top row.
A new selection is chosen every time the page is displayed or refreshed.
- Pick a random value Pick new random values for individual parameters using 🔄 icon buttons on the right end of each row.
- Select value Clicking on a parameter value will present a list of all values so one can be selected.
- Change settings Clicking â‹® on a row opens the settings. Clicking X or the Esc key will close.
- Any: pick any value from all values each time.
- Every: pick every single value until all have been chosen.
- Lock: do not change the value when pick all clicked.
- Play media When media files are provided as part of the configuration:
- Playing is initially paused until a manual interaction occurs; this is due to browser
behaviour.
- At the end of playing the same track can repeat (Loop 1, the default),
play next value of first parameter, or new random values chosen (Shuffle).
Playback can also be stopped.
.
- The speed of Playback can be varied from "Normal" to be faster or slower with pitches kept the same.
- Use keys Full keyboard access allows playing media without seeing values:
- The "N" key will pick a new value for all parameters.
- The number keys (1 to 0) pick a new value for the parameter at the row specified.
- The Space and "P" keys will play / pause media playing if available. As will clicking/touching the
background
area at the bottom.
- The "S" key will pick a random set if more than one is provided.
Example Configuration Files