System Requirements:
- Android version 13 and above.
- Premium Feature: Coupling to Muse EEG headband.
Installation Instructions:
- Download the DJ Bach app from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app and start playing!
Basic Navigation:
- The main screen displays the tonal control pad.
- Use the bottom navigation bar to switch between different fragments: CTRL, ALG, INSTR, MUSE.
NOTE : This app uses the Oboe audio library, which is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license. The app also uses the Muse SDK, and the terms and conditions of Muse company apply.
Features Overview
Interactive Tonal Controls:
- Prescribe variations of three tonal properties: Surprise (X), Tension (Y), and Vertical Dissonance (Z).
- Adjust amplitude, cycle length, and phase shift using range and seek bars.
Manual Mode:
- Use the pad arrays like the keys of an instrument to play music.
Guided Mode:
- Visualize the distribution of notes on the pad domain for a single melodic line.
Instrument Selection and Shuffle:
- Choose instruments for each of the 8 tracks.
- Use the shuffle option to change instruments every two bars.
Algorithm Customization:
- Adjust eight parameters, including those for long-range order, vertical harmony, and tonality.
Brain Wave To Music
Real-Time EEG-Based Music Generation
Our Android application integrates with EEG headbands, such as the Muse device by InteraXon, to convert real-time brainwave data into polyphonic music. By analyzing alpha and beta power bands, the system interprets emotional states in terms of valence and arousal, which are then mapped to musical elements like harmony and rhythm. This mapping allows the music to dynamically reflect the user's emotional state, with variations in tension and surprise corresponding to changes in brain activity.
Relevance to Infra-Slow Neurofeedback Training
Infra-slow neurofeedback focuses on modulating brain oscillations below 0.1 Hz, known as infra-slow fluctuations (ISFs), which play a crucial role in regulating central nervous system processes. Our system is designed to detect and respond to these ultra-low-frequency changes in emotional states, providing auditory feedback that aligns with the brain's infra-slow dynamics. This feature offers a novel approach for neurofeedback training, enabling users to engage with and potentially modulate their infra-slow brain activity through music.
Potential for Research Applications
While our application is not intended for clinical treatment, it presents a valuable tool for research into neurofeedback and biofeedback methodologies. The system's capacity to translate EEG data into music in real-time offers a unique platform for studying the effects of auditory feedback on brain activity, particularly in the context of infra-slow neurofeedback protocols. We welcome collaboration with the research community to explore these possibilities further.
- This feature is available exclusively under the premium version.
- To access it, you'll need to subscribe to the app and use the Muse headband.
- Get 20% off on the Muse headband via Tonamic with code: TONAMIC, or click the image below.
Experience the power of Muse headbands, an advanced EEG biofeedback device designed to enhance your mental well-being through cutting-edge multi-sensor technology.
At DJ Bach, we take this innovation a step further. We collect your real-time EEG data from Muse and transform it into beautiful, immersive music. Now you can listen to your brain's unique symphony and explore the rhythms of your mind like never before.
Feel your thoughts. Hear your mind.
Tom Cruise
Setting Up the App:
- Open DJ Bach on your device.
- Power on your Muse EEG headband (Premium Feature).
- Recalibrate your headband if needed.
Muse Integration:
- Connect to a Muse headband.
- EEG signals will be interpreted for arousal and valence.
- Use seek bars to link and control the correlation of these variables to tension and surprise.
- Flip the correlations to adjust music response according to your desired behaviour.
- Replay and share scores generated during autoplay.
Connecting Your EEG Headband:
- Ensure your headband is powered on and within range.
- Connection to headband and receiving data and initial calibration is done automatically.
- If the awaiting data sign stays for a long time, clean the headband and wipe your forehead with a damp cloth to ensure good electrical connection.
Maestro Mode
Setting Up the Mode:
- Make sure you have switched on the Maestro mode.
Maestro Mode:
- Control tension and surprise by changing device orientation. Keeping the device flat will result in the lowest tension, raising its front will increase the tension. Pointing to the left will decrease maximum surprise and pointing to right will increase the maximum surprise.
- Use acceleration sensors to control tempo. Moving the device up and down will trigger the sensor. The tempo will be adjusted in a way that there will be 8 beats between two consecutive movements.
Best Practices:
- Regularly recalibrate your headband for accurate readings.
- Experiment with different configurations to find what works best for you.
- Use Guided Mode to learn how tonal properties link to the pitch domain.
Example Configurations:
- Use preset configurations as a starting point.
- Customize and save your settings for quick access.
Common Issues and Solutions:
- Connection Problems: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled and the headband is charged.
- Audio Issues: Check your device’s volume settings and ensure no other apps are using audio.
What is Tonamic?
- Tonamic is a method that generates music based on your emotional prescription in the form of tension and surprise. DJ Bach is an implementation of the Tonamic method, with a capacity to connect to the Muse EEG headband.
Why does it take so long to receive data from Muse headband?
- This is because the calculation of the alpha and beta power bands is done over a time frame. There is also 15 seconds of initial calibration. However, if the electrical connection is poor the app may not receive the data it will require to calculate valence and arousal.
Can I save my music configurations and the scores?
- Yes, you can save, share, and download configurations. You can only save and share scores if the Premium Features are enabled.
EEG
- Electroencephalography, a method to record electrical activity of the brain.
Valence
- The intrinsic attractiveness/goodness or averseness/badness of an event.
Arousal
- The physiological and psychological state of being awoken or stimulated.
