Syntonize: A collaborative music making platform for bandmates

Abstract

This research explores the music making practices of musicians in a band, uncovering their needs to carry out successful collaborations. This work focuses on three key areas: the creative activities of music making, the dynamics of collaboration, and the tools used to support these.

This research unravels the complexity of the workflows of musicians, which lie amidst their individual musical expression, the constant exchange of their ideas, and the evolution of their personal relationships, with the goal of contributing to a shared musical piece. Additionally, currently used music making apps do not facilitate collaborative activities, making musicians seek alternative file sharing and communication tools to fulfill their needs online. This blocks their creative flow and slows down the band’s progress, particularly in the context of remote collaborations.

In a bid to address these issues and improve their collaboration, a solution was designed: Syntonize is a simple music making app concept that enables musicians in a band to easily collaborate on their early music making activities. They can create music teams with their bandmates, as well as shared music projects where they can easily record and combine their ideas. They can also communicate about their music, whether it is for precise feedback on their work, or general project management.