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A Standard Reference Audio Tone Generator for Tuning Indian Classical

Musical Instruments
K P Deshmukh
Associate Professor, Department of Electronics, Shri Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Barshi-413411, Maharashtra,
India
1
[email protected]

Abstract
This paper proposes a novel method for generating the standard reference musical notes for tuning the
Indian Classical Musical String Instruments and may other musical instruments that need periodical
retuning. Proper tuning of the musical instruments, before public performance, is must-to-do activity.
Even a fine mistuning leads to improper musical notes. In this paper we have designed an embedded
system, using standard microcontroller 8051, to obtain standard reference frequencies (notes) for three
different octaves (saptak’s). The output signal is conditioned to obtain near sinewave and reproduced
into sound using audio amplifier. The control program is written in assembly language to select the
reference note and an octave. The standard reference note frequencies are measured using 0.5 Hz
accuracy digital frequency counter and displayed on LCD.
Keywords:standard, audio, tone, generator, tuning, indian, classical, musical, instruments

1. Introduction the string type musical instruments. In this paper,

Most of the Indian string instruments are tuned the design of an embedded system using standard
traditionally with a reference note from harmonium microcontroller 8051 is discussed. The advantage
or similar instrument. But the main problem with of this design is the accuracy of generating the
this method is that the reference note is considered standard reference notes to 100%, at the same time
as a standard without any confirmation. Due to displaying the reference frequency for the music
advent of digital technology it is now possible to performer. The Table.1 shows the standard
produce standard reference notes or frequencies for reference frequency chart for Indian classical
music. Slight variation in standard frequencies is
Table.1. Standard Reference Frequency Chart
Musical
Tonein
Hz Sa 𝑅𝑒 Re 𝐺𝑎 Ga Ma 𝑀𝑎 Pa 𝐷ℎ𝑎 Dha Ni 𝑁𝑖 Sa
Octave
Upper 520 558 590 626 664 702 744 787 837 884 941 995 1040

Middle 260 280 296 314 332 351 372 394 419 443 470 500 520

Lower 130 141 148 158 167 176 186 196 209 222 235 251 260

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observed between south and north Indian classical the twelve different standard reference notes. Port-
music. Few additional standard frequency notes are 2 3-bits (P2.3 to P2.5) are used for selecting one of
present in south Indian music style. But this chart the three octaves (Saptak). P2.2 pin is used to
confirms to the standard notes followed by north output a square wave of frequency of a standard
Indian classical music. The same philosophy could reference note selected by performer.
be extended for south Indian classical music.[1-3]

+Vcc

10 KΩ

RE 𝐸𝐴 Vcc
+ SE P0.0
T
P0.1
-
10 P0.2
µF P0.3
P0.4
8
RESET P0.5
KΩ
P0.6
P0.7
P2.6
+Vcc P2.7
P3.0
P3.1
µC
10 KΩ P3.2
89C
P3.3
51
P2.3
P1.0 D0 16 X 2 Vcc
P2.4 P1.1 D1 LCD DISPLAY
P2.5 P1.2 D2 10
P1.3 D3 Vcon K
P1.4 D4 PO
X1 P1.5 D5 T
P1.6 D6 E RS R/W GND
Vcc
P2.0
P2.1

X2 P3.5 R
C + + -
P2.2 + LM386
GND - - 220 uF
uA741

Fig.1. Embedded System Circuit Diagram

2. Hardware Port-1 7-bits (P1.0 to P1.6) are used for sending
ASCII data toLCD and P2.0 and P2.1 bits are used
Fig.1. below shows basic circuit diagram of the for enabling ASCII data to LCD and selecting the
embedded system designed. Port-0 8-bits (P0.0 to command/data registers. The RC network along
P0.7) and Port-2 2-bits (P2.6 and P2.7) and Port-3 with manual RESET switch provides Power-On-
2-bits (P3.0 and P3.1) are used for selecting one of Reset and hardware reset to the microcontroller. A

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12 MHz crystal decides the internal clock and port pin initialization of the required pins is
frequency for the controller. The frequency performed. Timer-0 is used in mode-1 (16-bit
feedback is achieved by connecting the square- timer) for generating the square wave of
wave output to the counter-1 input (P3.5).The appropriate reference note and octave
square-wave output from pin P2.2 is converted into selected.Timer-1 is used as a 16-bit counter to
triangular wave form using OPAMP RC integrator. count the real-time frequency of the outputted note.
The integrator time period is kept much large The octave selection and reference note selection is
compared to the highest frequency of the standard obtained from the switch network. The updated
reference note to achieve a constant-slope frequency value is supplied to LCD display. The
triangular wave. The amplitude of the triangular music performer has the choice to select one of the
wave is adjustable to provide a volume control three octaves and one of the twelve notes from the
function for the audio power amplifier using selected octave. The Timer-0 is initialized with
LM386, as shown in the fig.1. appropriate hex value from the look-up table based
on the octave and reference note selected.
START Conclusions
It is possible to generate a standard
reference note for those Indian classical musical
instruments which need fine tuning occasionally or
PORT Initialization periodically. The testing of the designed system
Timer / Counter was performed in the Department of Music, Shri
Initialization Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Barshi-413411.
Results
An accuracy of 99.99% was obtained for
the designed embedded system for thirty-six
Octave and Reference reference notes in-total.
note Selection Acknowledgement
The authors like to thank Department of
Music and Department of Electronics for providing
Laboratory facilities, electronic material for
Square Wave Reference designing the system, and library access.
note Output
References
Journals
[1]. GajjarK. and PatelM. (2017).
Computational Musicology for Raga
Counter for Reference
note output
Analysis in Indian Classical Music: A
Critical Review, Int. Journal of Comp.
Appl., vol. 172 no. 9, pp 42 – 47.
[2]. ShridharR. and GeethaT. V. (2006). Swara
Identification for South Indian Classical
Display Reference Music, Proc. 9th Int. Conf. on Inf. Tech., pp
Note frequency 143-144.
Conferences
[3]. KrishnaswamyA. (2004). Towards
Modeling, Computer Analysis and
Fig.2. Embedded System flowchart Synthesis of Indian Ragams, Proc. FRSM-
3. Software 2004, Chidambaram, India.
The programming flowchart for the designed
embedded system is as shown in fig.2.The driving
software for the designed hardware is written in
assembly language for µC8051. Initially, the port

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