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81 lines
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Audio Playback
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==============
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PyTheory can synthesize and play tones and chords through your speakers
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using basic `waveform <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveform>`_ synthesis.
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.. note::
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Audio playback requires `PortAudio <http://www.portaudio.com/>`_ to be
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installed on your system. On macOS: ``brew install portaudio``.
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On Ubuntu: ``apt install libportaudio2``.
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Playing a Tone
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--------------
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.. code-block:: python
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from pytheory import Tone, play
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a4 = Tone.from_string("A4", system="western")
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play(a4, t=1_000) # Play A440 for 1 second
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Playing a Chord
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---------------
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.. code-block:: python
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from pytheory import Chord, Tone, play
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c_major = Chord(tones=[
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Tone.from_string("C4", system="western"),
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Tone.from_string("E4", system="western"),
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Tone.from_string("G4", system="western"),
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])
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play(c_major, t=2_000) # Play for 2 seconds
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Waveform Types
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--------------
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The waveform shape determines the `timbre <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbre>`_ (tonal color) of the sound.
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Different waveforms contain different combinations of **harmonics** —
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integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
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- `Sine wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine_wave>`_ — the purest tone. Contains only the fundamental
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frequency with no harmonics. Sounds smooth, clear, and "electronic."
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This is the building block of all other waveforms (`Fourier's theorem <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_series>`_).
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- `Sawtooth wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawtooth_wave>`_ — contains all harmonics (both odd and even),
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each at amplitude 1/n. Sounds bright, buzzy, and aggressive.
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Named for its shape. Used extensively in `additive synthesis <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additive_synthesis>`_ and analog synthesizers.
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- `Triangle wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_wave>`_ — contains only odd harmonics, each at amplitude
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1/n². Sounds softer and more mellow than sawtooth — somewhere between
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sine and sawtooth. Often described as "woody" or "hollow."
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.. code-block:: python
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from pytheory import play, Synth, Tone
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tone = Tone.from_string("C4", system="western")
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play(tone, synth=Synth.SINE) # Pure, clean
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play(tone, synth=Synth.SAW) # Bright, buzzy
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play(tone, synth=Synth.TRIANGLE) # Mellow, hollow
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Temperaments
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------------
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Hear the difference between tuning systems:
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.. code-block:: python
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play(tone, temperament="equal") # Modern standard (since ~1917)
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play(tone, temperament="pythagorean") # Pure fifths, wolf intervals
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play(tone, temperament="meantone") # Pure thirds, Renaissance sound
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Try playing a C major chord in each temperament — you'll hear subtle
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differences in the "color" of the major third. Equal temperament is
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a compromise; the other systems sacrifice some keys to make the good
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keys sound better.
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