MusiType is a free, open-source SuperCollider patch developed by Laura Genna and Toni York. It can be used to create music by typing on a computer keyboard.
By default, pressing a key in MusiType will cause a MIDI tone to play. The pitch is determined by the unicode for the key (for unicode values up to 127). However, users can direct MusiType to pair unicode values with recorded sound files, creating endless possibilities for composition and performance.
Composers can provide a score to performers via typing prompts that appear directly in the user interface. MusiType includes basic word processing, so users have visual feedback regarding their input. Users can edit the text in the word processor by pressing ‘Backspace’ on Windows or ‘Delete’ on Mac. Doing so will play either a MIDI tone or a sound file, if one has been specified by the user.
The first public performance involving MusiType occurred on December 5, 2019 at the George Segal Gallery in Montclair, NJ. It was the premiere of 6 new compositions and instruments, each created by a different member of the Montclair State University Electronic Music Ensemble.