Multidimensional similarity modelling of complex drum loops using the GrooveToolbox

Abstract

The GrooveToolbox is a new Python toolbox implementing various algorithms, new and pre-existing, for the analysis and comparison of symbolic drum loops, including rhythm features, similarity metrics and microtiming features. As part of the GrooveToolbox we introduce two new metrics of rhythm similarity and four features for describing the significant properties of microtiming deviations in drum loops. Based on a two-part perceptual evaluation, we show these four new microtiming features can each correlate to similarity perception, and be used with rhythm similarity metrics to improve personalized similarity models for drum loops. A new measure of structural rhythmic similarity is also shown to correlate more strongly to similarity perception of drum loops than the more com- monly used Hamming distance. These results point to the potential application of the GrooveToolbox and its new features in drum loop analysis for intelligent music production tools. The GrooveToolbox may be found at: https://github.com/fredbru/GrooveToolbox