How does Harmonize Melodies work?

[freddiphin]

@Lukas - I mentioned my curiosity over here in a feature request post but then saw in the feature list for Harmony Wizard the item "Harmonize melodies" and got excited.
I do not yet own Harmony Wizard but very much would be inclined to purchase it if it did indeed achieve something along the lines of harmonization of a melody line that I speak of there. IS that what the function Harmonize Melodies does in HW ?? In other words, within a given key (or even mode, dare I ask?) and only a single one-voice melody line, will it extrapolate a harmonic structure to accompany that melody line following some rules of SATB voicing? And, if so, are any of those rules or parameters adjustable or constrainable?
And otherwise, can you give an overview of what Harmonize Melodies requires and then achieves?

Thank you for all your work!

 

[Lukas]

Hi,

there are several features for harmonizing melodies or basslines and adding additional voices. However, they work by creating chords below or above a melody. The algorithms are not based on classical voice leading, counterpoint, or other principles of traditional harmony and composition.

Have you taken a look at the Harmony Wizard online manual? It explains in detail which features are included, what options they offer, and what you can do with them. It also includes short GIFs demonstrating what the results look like.

Overview | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

In this case, these would be the interesting pages:

Create Chords | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Harmonize With Random Chords In Scale Classical 1 | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Add Second Voice With Selected Scale Above Melody | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Harmonize Melody With Scale Triad Above | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Harmonize Melody With Chord Track Above Melody | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Double At Intervals | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

Octave Above | Harmony Wizard Manual

Online manual for Harmony Wizard for Studio One. Tips, tutorials, and in-depth feature guides.

manual.studioonescripts.com

 

[freddiphin]

@Lukas - I have been reading the manual and am just trying to wrap my head around the intention of "Harmonize melody with..."

I know you say that "The algorithms are not based on classical voice leading, counterpoint, or other principles of traditional harmony and composition." Are they based on some other principles of harmony that you prefer, or it it simply - chords must be diatonic to scale and include the melody note and are otherwise random, as you seem to indicate with in the manual and the names and description of some tools. And if so I presume that this proceeds then on a note by note basis totally unaware of anything that comes before or after in the melody. I don't quite understand the musical, and especially harmonization-al, logic behind "Random chords". Is the intention just to get notes up on the page quickly but in the basic "correct" range to then be intentionally moved around as melody dictates?

In short, is it safe to assume that, when being given a melody and scale (only) there is no voice leading or any voicing or harmonization theory at all that is taking into account the phrasal relationships established in the melody as a whole?

Sorry to be picky with the questions, but I'm not getting those details in the manual. Nor am I asking you to do anything more than you've expertly done. I just wanted to get an idea of what it does do so as not to assume things that it doesn't.

 

[Davey]

@Lukas - I have been reading the manual and am just trying to wrap my head around the intention of "Harmonize melody with..."

I know you say that "The algorithms are not based on classical voice leading, counterpoint, or other principles of traditional harmony and composition." Are they based on some other principles of harmony that you prefer, or it it simply - chords must be diatonic to scale and include the melody note and are otherwise random, as you seem to indicate with in the manual and the names and description of some tools. And if so I presume that this proceeds then on a note by note basis totally unaware of anything that comes before or after in the melody. I don't quite understand the musical, and especially harmonization-al, logic behind "Random chords". Is the intention just to get notes up on the page quickly but in the basic "correct" range to then be intentionally moved around as melody dictates?

In short, is it safe to assume that, when being given a melody and scale (only) there is no voice leading or any voicing or harmonization theory at all that is taking into account the phrasal relationships established in the melody as a whole?

Sorry to be picky with the questions, but I'm not getting those details in the manual. Nor am I asking you to do anything more than you've expertly done. I just wanted to get an idea of what it does do so as not to assume things that it doesn't.

Something like Scaler 3 is more suited to the stuff you are asking about. Of course, there is nothing stopping you having both!

 

[freddiphin]

Something like Scaler 3 is more suited to the stuff you are asking about. Of course, there is nothing stopping you having both!

I have Scaler 3. And it is from making the same assumption about it and finding that it doesn't achieve this either that drove me to this discussion here. There is no function in Scaler 3 that will harmonize an unaccompanied melody.
It is my own technical (coding/developing) naivete that lead me to believe that this would be a basic function of what any "Harmonization" app/plugin would do, in addition to all the other wonderful time-saving things that they do. The important thing that I am realizing now is the difference between that idea and a simple(r) "Harmony" app.

A proper harmonization function would be more of a generative tool where the harmony apps are more manipulative (of an existing context), I guess you could say. And I guess most people start with chords and overlay a melody later. Or start with a melody and use trial and error from the scale toolbox of "allowed" chords until they find one that works for them (totally acceptable). However, there is also fun (and instruction) in starting with a naked melody and building up the harmony from it following a kind of structure. This comes natural to me, but there are different theoretical approaches that are also fun to play with.
I'm realizing that harmonization theory is now, evidently, a niche practice (outside of actual theory/composition classes, that is), so perhaps not worth the time of more popular DAW-oriented music applications. And I guess it's not that easy, or likely very time-consuming, to write scripts that put these very algorithmic, theory-based methods to use. I found that This guy did it , for example, in a couple ways. There are a couple others as well that are python based or otherwise script-based approaches. All good. I just was imagining a more "musician-friendly" version at this point.

None of this requires a computer to do it. But then, nothing we do here does.

And, again, if I am just still missing something that is indeed there already in this plugin or elsewhere, I'd be happy to know it.