**semits -- semitone absolute pitch representation

DESCRIPTION

The **semits representation is used to represent absolute pitch in semitone units with respect to middle C. Middle C is designated zero semitones. All other pitches are represented with respect to this reference, hence A4 is 9 semits and A3 is -3 semits. Fractional values can also be represented, hence 1.5 is midway between C#4 and D4.

Pitch tokens may be modified by the presence of additional signifiers. The open brace `{' denotes the beginning of a phrase. The closed brace `}' denotes the end of a phrase. The open parenthesis `(' denotes the beginning of a slur. The closed parenthesis `)' denotes the end of a slur. The semicolon `;' denotes a pause.

Rest tokens are denoted by the lower-case letter `r'.

Barlines are represented using the "common system" for barlines -- see barlines.

FILE TYPE

It is recommended that files containing predominantly **semits data should be given names with the distinguishing `.sem' extension.

SIGNIFIERS

The following table summarizes the **semits mappings of signifiers and signifieds.

0-9	decimal values
-	minus sign
+	plus sign (optional)
.	fractional delimiter; null token
r	rest
=	barline; == double barline
(	slur start
)	slur end
{	phrase mark (start)
}	phrase mark (end)
;	pause sign

Summary of **semits Signifiers

The following sample document shows a **kern spine with corresponding **semits pitch values.

**semits	**kern
*M4/4	*M4/4
*c:	*c:
=	=
r	8r
12	16cc
11	16bn
12	8cc
14	8dd
5	16f
7	16g
8	4a-
7	16g
5	16f
=	=
4 7	1e 1g
==	==
*-	*-

The following Humdrum commands accept **semits encoded data as inputs:

	cents	translates **semits to **cents
	freq	translates **semits to **freq
	kern	translates **semits to **kern
	melac	calculate melodic accent values for successive pitches
	pc	translate **semits pitch to **pc
	pitch	translate **semits pitch to **pitch
	semits	change numerical precision of **semits values
	solfg	translate **semits pitch to **solfg
	tonh	translate **semits pitch to **Tonh
	vox	determine active and inactive voices in a Humdrum file

The following Humdrum commands produce **semits data as outputs:

semits

translates **cents, **freq, **fret, **kern, **MIDI, **pitch, **semits, **solfg, **specC, **Tonh, to **semits

The following tandem interpretations can be used in conjunction with **semits:

MIDI channel	*Ch1
meter signatures	*M6/8
key signatures	*k[f#c#]
key	*c#:

Tandem interpretations for **semits

barlines, **cents, cents, **freq, freq, **fret, **kern, kern, **MIDI, midi, **pitch, pitch, semits, **solfg, solfg, **specC, specc, **Tonh, tonh

• Pertinent description in the Humdrum User Guide
• Index to Humdrum Representations
• Index to Humdrum Commands
• Table for Contents for Humdrum User Guide