[sdiy] MIDI isn't musical : Flame bait?

[Don Tillman]

   Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 08:00:39 -0700
   From: Ian Fritz <ijfritz at earthlink.net>

   Yes, that agrees with some of the studies I've been reading about. Test on 
   timing simultaneity, for example, show that the best that the most gifted 
   people can resolve is around 10 ms.  People here who claim being able to 
   resolve 1 - 2 ms don't appear credible according to these results. 

Here's a little demo of superhuman skills...

Go up to a keyboard; a real one.  This works best on a Clavinet
because the notes are so distinct, but an acoustic piano works
completely fine too.  Play a ten note chord.  Any ten-note chord will
do, so choose one that you're especially comfortable playing.  

Now roll into the chord so the lower notes speaks first.  "Arpeggio"
is the proper term.  If you're at a piano, it'll be smoother if you
hold down the sustain and soft pedals.  Listen to it as you play and
practice that a few times.

Roll the chord over, say, a tenth-of a second.  That's 100 notes per
second without breaking a sweat.  What's more, you can clearly hear
every note speak.  You can easily tell how smooth your technique is
and you can hear yourself improve as your practice. 

Now roll twice as fast, that's 200 notes a second, 5mSec per note.  No
problem.  Each note is audible.  If one note were missing you'd notice
it, if one or more notes came out slightly early or late you'd notice
it.

What's more, with some practice you should be able to play rolls like
that at all sorts of speeds and be able to maintain a smooth touch
throughout.

   Also the fastest most people can tap a finger is about 9 Hz.  The
   fastest recorded tapping rate is 12 Hz.  So banging out alternating
   chords at that rate (24Hz chord rate) would be at the absolute
   limit of the fastest human being on earth.

My keyboard playing skill is one notch above "clown" and I can do this
without difficulty.  What's more, with some practice I can get it
pretty smooth.  Wait a second, I forgot, I actually wrote a song that
uses this very technique over eight minutes or so, but with only two
notes in the left hand and three notes in the right hand.  Same rhythm
though.  Then I through extra chords and accents on top of that rhythm.

Is it possible that MIDI was designed by folks who don't actually play
keyboard?

  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California, USA
don at till.com
http://www.till.com