L-System Controlled Music Expression through Visual Language Framework

Abstract

L-System has been very useful in modeling the development of biological plant. It has also been applied to music rendering and the L-systems plant model has also been used to represent musical note. Nonetheless, most of the tools available for L-System modeling require strong backgrounds in programming as well as L-Systems. In this paper, we describe an implementation of a simple and yet useful visual language framework for rapid generation of musical sounds which requires no such backgrounds. The framework is realized by designing and developing a simplified icon-based visual language framework. The system, called Visual Language Music Rendering provides an expressive music environment for L-System music rendering. In the framework, visual language grammar models for L-System music rendering are fed into the system for more effective transformation of plant model to music rendering. The framework also includes using mutated stochastic and context-sensitive L-Systems visually which results in better melody and enhanced musical sounds. In the evaluation, the system was compared with an existing music rendering tool and it was found that Visual Language Music Rendering is the preferred system and individuals who are interested in music rendering can easily use it even though one has no experience in music or L-System.