Beat-Sync-Mash-Coder: A web application for real-time creation of beat-synchronous music mashups

We present the Beat-Sync-Mash-Coder, a new tool for semi-automated real-time creation of beat-synchronous music mashups. We combine phase vocoder and beat tracker technology to automate the task of synchronizing clips. Freeing the user from this task allows us to replace the traditional audio editing paradigm of the Digital Audio Workstation with an intuitive clip selection interface. The application is completely web-based and operates in the ubiquitous cross-platform Flash framework. The efficiency of our implementation is reflected in performance tests, which demonstrate that the system can sustain real-time phase vocoding of 5-9 simultaneous audio signals on consumer-level hardware. This allows the user to easily create dynamic, intricate and musically coherent acoustic soundscapes. Based on an initial user study with 24 high school students, we also find that the Beat-Sync-Mash-Coder is engaging and can get students excited about music and technology.