LIMITER: A Gamified Interface for Harnessing Just Intonation Systems

Abstract

This paper introduces LIMITER, a gamified digital musical instrument for harnessing and performing microtonal and justly intonated sounds. While microtonality in Western music remains a niche and esoteric system that can be difficult both to conceptualize and to perform with, LIMITER presents a novel, easy to pickup interface that utilizes color, geometric transformations, and game-like controls to create a simpler inlet into utilizing these sounds as a means of expression. We report on the background of the development of LIMITER, as well as explain the underlying musical and engineering systems that enable its function. Additionally, we offer a discussion and preliminary evaluation of the creativity-enhancing effects of the interface.