docs: Add comprehensive key/scale visualization research#23
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Research document exploring prior art for implementing a "vertical key scale that expands to the right of tracks" as suggested by a DJ user. Covers: - DJ software (Mixed In Key, Rekordbox, Serato, Traktor, DJ.Studio) - DAWs (Ableton Live 12, Push, Novation Launchpad, Bitwig 6, FL Studio) - Hardware sequencers (Elektron, Polyend, Arturia, Maschine, MPC, Circuit) - Web-based sequencers (Soundtrap, Splice, BandLab) Key findings: - Novation's "paler pad" pattern is most elegant root note indicator - Bitwig pioneered project-wide key signature in transport bar - FL Studio's ghost notes solve cross-track visibility - No product addresses multiplayer harmonic collaboration (opportunity) Includes 6 design concepts and phased implementation recommendations.
Major pivot based on research into real-world instruments and multiplayer apps.
Key insight: The most successful musical systems don't ask "how do we
show all the scale options?" They ask "how do we make it impossible
to sound bad?"
Research findings:
- Handpan/kalimba players love constraints ("frees the mind")
- Orff method: teachers REMOVE xylophone bars to enable creativity
- Endlesss/Incredibox use shared constraints, not conflict warnings
- Pentatonic eliminates tritone = impossible to be dissonant
Removed (not aligned with constraint-first philosophy):
- Per-track key badges
- Cross-track harmonic view
- Collaborative scale voting
- Ghost notes from other players
- Conflict warnings
Added:
- Session-level scale selector in transport bar
- Scale Lock toggle constraining ChromaticGrid
- "Paler" root note styling (Novation pattern)
- Pentatonic as default (Orff principle)
- Optional drone reference (tanpura principle)
Multiplayer: shared constraint IS the coordination.
No clashes possible = no warnings needed.
Updates Key Assistant research to show how visualization and constraint complement each other as a unified system. The DJ's "vertical key scale" request and Scale Lock work together: - Scale Sidebar (visualization): Shows what's available + usage histogram - Scale Lock (constraint): Removes wrong notes, enables flow state - Neither is complete alone; both together = safe + aware Added research on constraint + visualization patterns: - Bitwig Studio 6: Scale degree coloring + Snap to Key - Novation Launchpad Pro: Scale Viewer + Scale Mode - GarageBand: Interface transformation IS the constraint - Unexploited opportunity: Usage histograms (no tool does this) Key insight: "Visualization teaches, constraint enables" Multiplayer benefit: Sidebar shows player-colored note usage, giving shared situational awareness while constraint prevents clashes.
Replace player-colored usage with aggregate histogram and add three research-backed multiplayer coordination approaches: - Bandleader Model (host controls scale) - Implicit Listening (peer-to-peer coordination) - Trading Fours (rotation-based turns)
Remove histogram visualization and consolidate multiplayer approach to active listening only—coordination through hearing what others play, not visual usage tracking. Scale Sidebar now shows just the scale notes with root/fifth emphasis.
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Research document exploring prior art for implementing a "vertical key
scale that expands to the right of tracks" as suggested by a DJ user.
Covers:
Key findings:
Includes 6 design concepts and phased implementation recommendations.