Artificial INtelligence-based Interactive Microtonal Compositional Assistant

ongoing

The ANIMA (Artificial INtelligence-based Interactive Microtonal Compositional Assistant) project addresses the limitations of current AI-driven music generation systems by shifting the focus toward human-centered creativity. Unlike platforms that risk homogenizing musical output, ANIMA empowers users to engage deeply with novel harmonic structures, specifically microtonal harmony. This project explores music systems beyond traditional Western 12-tone equal temperament (12-TET), embracing 31-tone and 53-tone equal temperaments to unlock new musical possibilities and enhance compositional diversity. The project is rooted in European academic perspectives and draws on computational modeling and machine learning to support rather than replace human agency. It builds on the ongoing work at institutions such as the MUSAiC (ERC) project, the Music Technology Group at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and the Algomus lab at Université de Lille. ANIMA allows composers to explore expanded harmonic and melodic vocabularies with real-time interactive interfaces and data visualization to navigate microtonal harmonic spaces. ANIMA aims to establish a microtonal music corpus and develop computational models integrating advanced music theory with machine learning techniques. This paradigm shift contributes to a broader understanding of harmony, promotes cultural diversity, and supports the preservation of non-Western musical traditions. The open-source framework also paves the way for its integration into music education, musicology, and digital humanities, with potential commercialization through collaborations with industry partners. In summary, ANIMA is poised to revolutionize AI-assisted music composition by offering innovative tools for microtonal music exploration while maintaining the intrinsic value of human creativity.