SpiralMusic_python

A python program for visualizing MIDI files, and displaying them in a spiral layout

For a hardware version using Teensy & LED displays see here: https://github.com/mechatronicsguy/SpiralMusic_Teensy

Who is this software for?

Anyone (like me) that likes music, but becomes confused by the notation.

e.g. Take this picture: Are these three different chords, or are they actually the same chord, but voiced in three different ways?

I could stare at this for a couple of minutes and still not be 100% sure.

But I could tell immediately after seeing this that they are the same:

Software features

• Simple & open source. Built around Pygame & MIDO library
• Reads ordinary MIDI files
• Different instruments show up as different colours
• Tracks program change messages in order to display which instruments are used on which channel

Features of the visualizing method:

• You can see an entire orchestra "Cooperating" to make a chord, wtihout having to read 6 sets of sheet music simultaneously
• Makes it extremely easy to see transpositions (just rotations)
• Melodic inversion is just a mirror flip
• Notes played stay visible for a time as a 'histogram'. Key signature can be inferred from this
• Different instruments (midi channels) are different colours. Can see contributions of each instrument to the whole

All chords have very simple and recognizable shapes, regardless of key:

Some more examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ3JxfQlj_A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0DqMEkbHkw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hYWCuFySls