The Pulse: Embedded Beat Sensing Using Physical Data

This research investigates the utility of drum vibration data, as the input to beat-tracking algorithms. This approach presents a novel alternative to using either audio signals or MIDI/Virtual Score representations as a means of tempo following and subsequent tempo control. A prototype system: The Pulse has been developed as proof of concept for this approach. The system comprises one or more sensors connected to a microcontroller which runs beat detection and tempo tracking algorithms in real-time. This paper discusses scenarios where this approach benefits over existing approaches. As a means of quantitative evaluation, a methodology to compare the functionality of this sensor-based system to that of a contemporary audio signal-based system was also created in the form of a user study which was conducted with the results then analysed here. The conclusion of this project asserts that low-cost sensors, attached to either instruments or performers themselves during a live performance can be reliably used to detect the percussive onsets required by beat-tracking systems and the performance and accuracy of the prototype system is comparable with existing, audio-only systems.