Timing variability

Tempo Change and Leadership in Ensemble Synchronisation

The ability to synchronise is a hallmark of professional music-making. Such synchronisation, without a conductor, is achievable by timing error correction, either through phase correction (Wing et al., 2014) or period correction (by adjusting the …

Annotation Variance Analysis for Optimal Feedback Correction

Detection of note onsets in string instruments is still a major challenge in music signal processing. Previously, we used the annotations of four musicians (based on the Hayden Op74 finale, normal speed, repetition 12, bar 1-49s) to define the …

Effect of Leadership Change on Microtiming Patterns in String Quartet

This study investigated the effects of changes in leadership on microtiming patterns of different players within a string quartet. By quantising note onset positions within eighth-note metrical structure of bar-length rhythmic patterns, it is …

Padded bGLS - an Approach for Near Real-Time Estimation of Synchronisation Parameters for Ensemble Musicians

When musicians play in ensemble, they continuously adapt to each other to ensure that the group keeps time together. This adaptation can be captured by a linear phase correction model, representing how they adjust to one another. The Augmented …

Phase Correction in Simulated-Ensemble Timing

Interpersonal timing is important for creating a cohesive music performance in small ensembles without a conductor. Wing et al. (2014) proposed that phase correction underlies ensemble timing in classical quartet performance. They described two …

Playing in Synch, Exploring the Effects of Expressive Styles on Motion Synchrony in String Quartets

This study explored how musicians use visual cues during ensemble performances. Specifically, we looked at how motion synchrony varied with different playing styles, with the first violin as the lead player. We used an excerpt from the finale of …

Annotation of Soft Onsets in String Ensemble Recordings

Onset detection is the process of identifying the start points of musical note events within an audio recording. While the detection of percussive onsets is often considered a solved problem, soft onsets-as found in string instrument recordings-still …

Assessing the feasibility of real-time analysis of timing and coordination between ensemble musicians

When musicians play in ensemble, they continuously adapt to each other to ensure that the group keeps time together. The musicians’ timing correction can be captured by a linear phase correction model, where each player has a correction gain to other …

Synchronisation with a violin duo

The control of relative timing is evident in many social activities including synchronisation in music performance. The Linear Phase Correction Model of musical ensemble (Wing et al., 2014) suggests each player in a string quartet corrects the timing …

Synchronisation in a virtual quartet

The Linear Phase Correction Model of musical ensemble (LPC) (Wing et al., 2014) suggests each player in a string quartet corrects the timing of the next note as a proportion of the asynchronies with the other three players on the previous note. In …