Using PianoBooster to perform ear training

[abraxa]

Generally, PianoBooster seems well-equipped to be usable as an ear training tool. This means that PB would play a note and the user has to press the key that corresponds to it. Unfortunately, there are some issues that make ear training not great. Some are generic, some apply to using synthesizers as input and output devices.

Generic:

• PB should not do any rhythm tapping
• PB should be able to generate (infinite amounts of) random notes for left hand, right hand or both within a specified note range
• PB should eventually also be able to generate intervals and chords
• Only one part should be used and the MIDI channel for it should be user-selectable
• No "right note" and "wrong note" sounds should be played

Synthesizer issues:

• PB appears to send "program change" MIDI commands which mess up the program(s) the user selected
• The mapping of part to MIDI channel is fixed but one may want to have part 3 use MIDI channel 14, not 3

I'd like to try implementing this feature because I'd like to use it. However, I'd like to receive feedback first before I start working on this.

Is this something you see within the scope of PB? Would you merge such an "ear training" mode? Would you accept changes that add additional configuration options that make PB more usable with external synthesizers?

[Martchus]

I personally like the idea. However, I'm not a maintainer of this not very actively maintained project (so I cannot merge anything myself).

[abraxa]

Thanks for the hint. I had a look at the code base and I saw mention that the original author of the application had plans to gamify it. I agree with that as a long-term goal but implementing ear training in a forward-compatible manner may be a little tricky.

I'll wait for the current maintainer to chime in and use solfege in the meanwhile as a compromise. The ear training mode there is not what I envision but it's better than nothing.