Music source separation is the task of extracting separate instrument tracks, or stems, from a final a song mix. This is an incredibly hard problem, often compared to getting the eggs back from an omelet. While theorists haven't completely solved yet the source separation problem, recent advances in AI are getting us closer and closer … Continue reading Music Source Separation (aka “Unmixing”) with Chronotron

Chronotron allows you to download YouTube clips and also to stream videos without downloading them. In Release 151 and older versions of the app, though, the Search functionality in the YouTube flyout may no longer work as expected. Release 152 and later should be more stable when it comes to searching clips. Still, if you … Continue reading YouTube Search Errors

For a long time, I resisted mentioning Coronavirus in this blog. After all, computer programs can get infected by viruses, but just not by that kind of virus. Or can they? Luckily, my family and I are safe so far, and so is the Chronotron app. Social distancing and other changes in our behavior have … Continue reading Using Chronotron via Remote Desktop

Last year I blogged about Chronotron's built-in YouTube downloader. Since release 145, Chronotron can also stream online videos without actually downloading them. To try it out, after searching for a clip, click on the ellipsis and select Add link to current playlist. Yes, you can create playlists where some – or all – of the … Continue reading You Stream

Today I turn 47. Like last year, I'd like to thank everyone who said congrats through the usual social platforms. And like last year, I'm blogging something about it. It turns out that being just one year older triggered in me the need for prescription glasses. Glasses being expensive gear, I quickly found myself shopping … Continue reading 47

In the previous post of this series I wrote about how Chronotron can detect and classify transients, which are then shown on top of the waveform using different shapes. In a nutshell, this feature provides you with visual clues about musical events, like note attacks, which may not be obvious to spot by looking at … Continue reading Funny Shapes (Part II)

What are the funny shapes that appear on top of the waveform in Chronotron? There are circles, triangles and sometimes even diamonds! I'll come to the meaning of these symbols shortly, but even more important than the shapes are the vertical bars behind them. These bars represent transients, that is, sudden changes in intensity, like … Continue reading Funny Shapes (Part I)

While some kinds of app can survive on their own, media players are useless without media. Some Chronotron users work with their own tunes, but many of you rely on instructional videos or similar material from the Internet, to learn how to play an instrument. This is why Chronotron has a built-in YouTube downloader. The … Continue reading You Download

Today I turn 46, so I decided to blog something about it. This is also my opportunity to thank you all – relatives, colleagues and Chronotron users – for the warm messages on all those social networks I seldom interact with. Just yesterday, on my way back from a holiday trip, I was handed the … Continue reading 46

Developing Chronotron is one of my hobbies. I started this project about 20 years ago as a companion tool to improve my guitar playing abilities. The software has improved a lot since then, though I wish I could say the same of my musical abilities (sigh). While I don't spend the entirety of my spare … Continue reading Your App, my Hobby