Melomics

Melomics (derived from "genomics of melodies") is a computational system for the automatic composition of music (with no human intervention), based on bioinspired algorithms.[1]

Melomics Media
Type of businessUniversity spin-off, University of Málaga
Available inEnglish
Founded2012
Area servedWorldwide
Founder(s)Francisco Vico
IndustryMusic
Services
  • on-line music
  • royalty-free music
  • music-based mobile apps
URLmelomics.uma.es
AdvertisingNone
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJuly 2012
Current statusActive
Melomics Media showroom at Andalusia Technology Park

Technological aspects

Melomics applies an evolutionary approach to music composition, i.e., music pieces are obtained by simulated evolution. These themes compete to better adapt to a proper fitness function, generally grounded on formal and aesthetic criteria. The Melomics system encodes each theme in a genome, and the entire population of music pieces undergoes evo-devo dynamics (i.e., pieces read-out mimicking a complex embryological development process).[2][3][4][5] The system is fully autonomous: once programmed, it composes music without human intervention.

This technology has been transferred to industry as an academic spin-off, Melomics Media, which has provided and reprogrammed a new computer cluster that created a huge collection of popular music. The results of this evolutionary computation are being stored in Melomics' site,[6] which nowadays constitutes a vast repository of music content. A differentiating feature is that pieces are available in three types of formats: playable (MP3), editable (MIDI and MusicXML) and readable (score in PDF).

Computer clusters

The Melomics computational system includes two computer clusters: Melomics109 and Iamus, dedicated to popular and artistic music, respectively.[2][7]

Melomics109 cluster
Melomics109

Melomics109 is cluster programmed and integrated in the Melomics system.[8] Its first product is a vast repository of popular music compositions (roughly 1 billion), covering all essential styles. In addition to MP3, all songs are available in editable formats (MIDI);[9] and music is licensed under CC0, meaning that it is freely downloadable.[8][10]

0music is the first album published by Melomics109, which is available in MP3 and MIDI formats, under CC0 license.

It has been argued that, by making such amount of editable, original and royalty-free music accessible to people, Melomics may accelerate the process of commoditization of music, and change the way music is composed and consumed in the future.[1][9][10]

Iamus album

In the first stages of the development of the Melomics system, Iamus composed Opus one (on October 15, 2010), arguably the first fragment of professional contemporary classical music ever composed by a computer in its own style, rather than attempting to emulate the style of existing composers. The first full composition (also in contemporary classic style), Hello World!, premiered exactly one year after the creation of Opus one, on October 15, 2011. Four later works premiered on July 2, 2012, and were broadcast live[11] from the School of Computer Science at Universidad de Málaga[12] as part of the events included in the Alan Turing year. The compositions performed at this event were before recorded at Real Conservatorio María Cristina, Málaga (Spain), March 2 to 3, 2012, and Angel Studios, London (UK) at April 14, 2012, by the London Symphony Orchestra, creating Iamus' eponymous first album, which New Scientist reported as the "first complete album to be composed solely by a computer and recorded by human musicians."[13]

Commenting on the quality and authenticity of the music, Stephen Smoliar, critic of classical music at The San Francisco Examiner, commented "What is primary is the act of making the music itself engaged by the performers and how the listener responds to what those performers do... what is most interesting about the documents generated by Iamus is their capacity to challenge the creative talents of performing musicians".[14]

Applications

Melomics' empathic music has been tested in a number of therapeutic clinical trials,[15][16][17][18] evidencing positive effects in reducing fear of heights, acute stress and pain perception. One of the studies resulted in a reduction of almost two thirds of pain perception in children undergoing a standard Skin Prick Test during allergy testing, as compared to the standard procedure.[18] Some of these experiments made use of free mobile apps to adapt music to daily activity,[19] such as jogging,[20] or commuting,[21] but also for therapeutic use, such as lessening stress before an exam,[22] reducing chronic pain,[23] insomnia,[24] and to help children go to sleep.[25]

Ongoing efforts to allow Melomics to adapt music in real-time to changes in the physiological state of the listener, and to music branding were also reported.[10][26]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melomics logos and screenshots.
  1. Smith, Sylvia (3 January 2013). "Iamus: Is this the 21st century's answer to Mozart?". BBC News Technology.
  2. Sánchez, C; Moreno, F; Albarracin, D; Fernandez, JD; Vico, FJ (2013). "Melomics: A Case-Study of AI in Spain" (PDF). AI Magazine. 34 (3): 99–103. doi:10.1609/aimag.v34i3.2464. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 24, 2021.
  3. Stieler, Wolfgang (2012). "Die Mozart-Maschine". Technology Review (Germany). December: 26–35.
  4. Ball, Philip (2012). "Algorithmic Rapture". Nature. 188 (7412): 456. doi:10.1038/488458a.
  5. Fernandez, JD; Vico, FJ (2013). "AI Methods in Algorithmic Composition: A Comprehensive Survey" (PDF). Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research. 48: 513–582. doi:10.1613/jair.3908. S2CID 8822245. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  6. "Melomics.com". Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  7. Ball, Philip (8 August 2014). "Artificial music: The computers that create melodies". BBC Future.
  8. Lenhart, Christian (13 January 2013). "Die Mozart-Maschine". taz.de.
  9. Peckham, Matt (4 January 2013). "Finally, a computer that writes contemporary music without human help". Time Magazine.
  10. Bosker, Bianca (13 January 2013). "Life As Francisco Vico, Creator Of The Incredible Computer-Composer Iamus". The Huffington Post.
  11. Ball, Philip (1 July 2012). "Iamus, classical music's computer composer, live from Malaga". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  12. School of Computer Science (University of Malaga - Spain) (2012-07-02). "Can machines be creative? (live from Malaga)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  13. "Computer composer honours Turing's centenary". New Scientist. 5 July 2012.
  14. Smoliar, Stephen (4 January 2013). "Thoughts about Iamus and the composition of music by computer". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014. Accessed: 10 January 2013.
  15. Caparros-Gonzalez, R; Torre-Luque, A; Buela-Casal, G; Vico, F (20–22 July 2015). "10th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology". MELOMICS relaxing music for premature infants: preliminary results testing its effects on physiological parameters. University of Roehampton (London).
  16. Torre-Luque, A; Caparros-Gonzalez, R; Bastard, T; Buela-Casal, G; Vico, F (14–16 November 2014). "7th International Congress of Clinical Psychology". Effects of relaxing music listening after the exposure to acute stress within laboratory settings. Seville.
  17. Seinfeld, S; Slater, M; Vico, F; Sanchez-Vives, M (1–5 August 2014). "120th APA Convention". The influence of relaxing music on anxiety induced by fear of heights in an immersive virtual reality experience. Seville.
  18. Requena, G; Sanchez, C; Corzo-Higueras, JL; Reyes-Alvarado, S; Rivas-Ruiz, F; Vico, F; Raglio, A (2014). "Melomics music medicine (M3) to lessen pain perception during pediatric prick test procedure". Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 25 (7): 721–724. doi:10.1111/pai.12263. PMID 25115240. S2CID 43273958.
  19. "Melomics apps". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  20. "Sports free". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  21. "Commuting free". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  22. "School free". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  23. "Chronic Pain". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  24. "Fall asleep for adults". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  25. "Fall asleep for kids". Google Play. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  26. "Music applications". Universidad de Malaga. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2014.(archived at )
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