DJ Bach App User Manual

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

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    Our Android app connects with EEG headbands like Muse to turn real-time brainwave data into polyphonic music. By analyzing alpha and beta bands, it interprets emotional states (valence and arousal) and maps them to musical elements such as harmony and rhythm, allowing the music to reflect the user's emotions in real time.

Relevance to Neurofeedback Training

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    Neurofeedback targets brain oscillations below 0.1 Hz, known as infra-slow fluctuations (ISFs), which are key to central nervous system regulation. Our system detects these ultra-slow emotional shifts and provides musical feedback aligned with them, offering a novel way to engage with and train infra-slow brain activity.

Potential for Research Applications

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    Although not designed for clinical treatment, our app offers a valuable research tool for exploring neurofeedback and biofeedback. Its real-time EEG-to-music translation provides a unique platform to study auditory feedback's impact on brain activity, especially within infra-slow protocols. We invite collaboration with the research community.

    • 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.
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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.
  • Select from various EEG features, including Alpha, Beta, Energy (Arousal), and Valence.
  • EEG signals are analysed to interpret EEG features - emotional features derived from frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), and beta/alpha ratio (BAR), respectively.
  • 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.
Tips and Tricks

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.
Session Interpretation

Alpha:

  • Alpha suppression typically indicates increased alertness or excitement.
  • Higher alpha → relaxed, calm state.
  • Lower alpha → higher arousal.

Beta:

  • Beta is linked to increased energy and excitement.
  • Higher beta → More energetic, driven music.
EEG Marker Relationship to Arousal Musical Interpretation
Beta ↑ ↑ Arousal Fast, complex, energetic music
Alpha ↓ ↑ Arousal Less calm → more tension/drive
Beta/Alpha Ratio ↑ Arousal Clear, normalized arousal cue
FAA (left > right) +Valence (positive) Happy high-energy vs angry

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.
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DJ Bach with the Launchpad Mini MK3

Launchpad MK3 Mode:

  • Connect your Launchpad to an Android device via USB-C.
  • Launch DJ Bach on your mobile/tablet with high-quality sound output.
  • Compose and perform like a pro — be the DJ of the future!
    • ⚠️ Novation and Launchpad are trademarks of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. DJ Bach is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novation.
🔗 Learn More About Novation Products
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Troubleshooting

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.

Contact Support:

FAQs

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.

How do the sliders in the ALG fragment affect the generated music? ▼

These sliders adjust the weights of factors used to calculate tension and surprise. In some cases, the effect on the output may be subtle, especially to untrained musical ears.

Is my data stored, shared or sold? ▼

The app is designed with privacy in mind. It does not collect any data, personal or otherwise, since everything runs directly on your device with no backend involved. The only time an internet connection is needed is for Google Play to verify your subscription. Your data stays entirely in your hands!

Are the tunes reproducible? ▼

Yes, but in a conceptually different way compared to traditional instruments! Pressing the same pad always triggers the same level of tension and surprise, but this can result in:
  1. The same tone being played,
  2. A different tone being played, or
  3. No tone at all if Tie Notes is enabled (the pad turns grey instead of red).
To better understand this concept, you can visualise the upcoming note for each pad in single-line melodies by using the Guided preset on the CTRL fragment.
Glossary of Terms:

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.