Convert whistle to piano or drums!

amzg · Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Sweden

Yes, I would laugh at that headline too Very Happy

Look, I've been told I have a gift for music all my life and recently had a chance to do an aptitude test that did, in deed, indicate I have some definite talent. However... I cannot sing and I can play no instrument. But... in my head, there are wonderful tunes, trapped and caged. I can't express them, I can only think them... Crying or Very sad

So.. I'm hoping technology - and you - can come to rescue! Wink

Is this at all possible;

I can whistle quite well! So, I figured there may now be some way to convert whistled tunes into some digital format that can be interpreted by a computer and replayed as another instrument!!

Is it possible? I have no experience in these matters at all, so a simple user interface is probably necessary, as long as it really can do what I'm hoping for.

I would really really appreciate your help! Every time I open my mouth to make a tune I feel awful because my ears scream NOOOOO!

Sincerely

Matias, Sweden

P.S if you think I would get more or better answers elsewhere then I would really appreciate to hear that too! Thank you!

Wout Blommers · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

amzg

Well, the headline wasn't the most funniest thing in you post Very Happy

Let me answer your question like this: a computer is only a tool. Just like a pen to write your novel you have to know how to handle the tool to get the results you are after.
If you only want to keep your 'songs' for eternity, just record them on a tape recorder or something like that.
To make the melody the starting cell to your song you have know what is going on, so you have to study computer technology and music...

Wout

amzg · Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Sweden

I really appreciate that you answer so kindly Wout!

But the problem is that I can't record them on a tape recorder, because I can neither sing nor play any instrument. And, even if I may possibly record my whistling, it would end up, well... silly, if I tried to add several tracks of whistling to it.

I'm 35 years of age and I do know my way around computers, but I have never specifically dealt with any software for music.

I'm sure there are people here who feel "he must pay his dues" and "start with scales" etc, but I'm after the end result (good music) and just like with a good book, we as readers couldn't care less if the author used a pen or a computer. It's what what in the authors head.

That said, I fully understand that even with some miraculous software solution, there are no shortcuts for a sense for music (or writing).

If anything, realizing that I just ain't got it usic-wise has value also.

...but I do think I've got it! Wink

I'm also a professional performance artist, and it would be fantastic to perform to my own music.

So Wout and everyone, if you've heard of any such thing as a software turning 'sounds' into a format where you can "apply" it to digital instruments, please share.

All best,

Matias

Wout Blommers · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:04 am Post subject:

amzg · Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Sweden

Thank you! One of the most important things I get from your answers is to confirm my impression that MIDI is what I'm supposed to aim for.

And the product in the link you provide does seem decent (...but I'm not qualified to tell)

http://www.mp3towav.org/TS-AudioToMIDI/

This one "Intelliscore Ensemble"
http://www.intelliscore.net/
says it is the "worlds only multi-instrument WAVE to MIDI converter. I have no idea if they're telling the truth. But sounds good, I guess...

Mellosoftron III apparently got a lot of awards. I have no idea if they're real awards or something his uncle made up... but the "III" in the name makes me think it's a third generation of something....
http://www.polyhedric.com/software/ml/
http://www.filetransit.com/view.php?id=94

This one seems to only work for Irish Folk music. I'm guessing it identifies what you play and then provides the notes, out of a library, for you:
http://www.comp.dit.ie/bduggan/music/index.html
...maybe not what I'm looking for as I want to create my own music..

Problem is, I don't know what to look for in these things. I guess it's like if anyone here were to buy, say, an aeroplane dashboard. "Ummm... yeah, it looks shiny and I like those round things". I just don't know what makes something good or bad.

*Get it to MIDI, seems to be one criteria I should aim for.
*I assume it must be able to handle parallel tracks, or maybe that would be the task for a separate software... but then I'd have to learn one more software. Actually though, the "parallel tracking" (term?) is probably common knowledge among you guys, right?
*Ease of use is critical
*Cheap (or even freeware) is desirable
*Requiring only a microphone (+regular PC with loudspeakers) - is that a reasonable hope?
*... ?

Thank you all, and especially Wout of course Very Happy

Antimon · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:18 am Post subject:

I think there have been some experiments with pitch tracking in ChucK (a c-style programming language that has an active subforum here), I think Inventor used it in one of his guitar thingies. ChucK is free, and can send midi notes that you can record in a DAW or something.

I perceive whisteling as being pretty close to pure sine waves, so it should be perfect for pitch tracking.

/Stefan