HARMONIC SERIES SPIRAL SYNTH
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Fundamental frequency (1–200 Hz):
Hz
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Input language:
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Activate/kill Synth (toggle with "esc")
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More info
This interactive visualisation of the harmonic series is based on Erv Wilson's 1965 publication and Catherine Lamb's related practice, which she explores and develops on an ongoing basis.
Partials of the harmonic series may be sounded by hovering over individual nodes with the cursor or by pressing keys on the keyboard (mapping set by "Input language") to play aggregates of up to 8 simultaneously sounding partials (N.B. Due to key rollover – a hardware-specific limitation on the number and specific combination of possible simultaneously depressed keys – it may not always be possible to play up to 8 partials).
Keyboard mapping (EN or DE)
Partials are mapped to successive rows of ten keys (left–right, top–bottom).
1° through 10° are mapped to the number keys keys 1 through 0.
11° through 20° are mapped to the next row of ten lowercase letter keys directly beneath the number keys, i.e. q through p.
The next two rows of 10 keys (including lowercase letters and some symbols) follow the same pattern of increasing partials from left to right.
The higher partials are located on capitals and "shift" symbols: 41° through 50° on "Q" through "P", 51° through 60° on "A" through ":" (or "Ö"), and 61° through 64° on "Z" (or "Y") through "V".
The number keys help with locating partials, as the same final digits lie on diagonals emerging from the corresponding number key (e.g. 5°, 15°, 25°, 35° lie on diagonal "5", "t", "g", "b").