Search-by-Distance-SMP

An implementation of Music-Graph for foobar2000 using Spider Monkey Panel, which creates intelligent "spotify-like" playlist using high-level data from tracks and computing their similarity using genres/styles.

Features

Creates playlists using high-level data from tracks similar to the currently selected one according to genre, style, key, etc. When their score is over a threshold, they are included in the final pool. After all tracks have been evaluated and the final pool is complete, some of those tracks are chosen to populate the playlist. You can choose whether this final selection is done according to score, randomly, using Harmonic mixing rules, etc. All settings are configurable via button's menus (on customizable button) or the properties panel (static buttons).

To use this plugin at its best and to benefit the most from your library, you will want to make sure that your songs have the most possible information on genre, style, key, moods, etc.

There are 3 methods to calculate similarity between tracks: WEIGHT, GRAPH (see above) and DYNGENRE.

• WEIGHT: -> Score
  Calculates similarity (score) according to tags. Similarity is calculated by simple string matching ('Rock' != 'Soul'), range comparison for numeric tags and a special algorithm for Key tags (harmonic mixing). This means some coherence in tags is needed to make it work, and the script only works with high level data (tags) which should have been added to files previously using manual or automatic methods (like MusicBrainz Picard, see note at bottom).

• GRAPH: -> Score + Distance
  Apart from scoring, it compares the genre/styles tags to the ones of the reference track using a graph and calculating their minimum mean distance. Imagine Google maps for genre/styles, and looking for the distance from Rock to Jazz for ex. Note this is totally different to simple string matching, so 'Acid Rock' may be similar to 'Psychedelic Rock' even if they are totally different tag values (or strings). This method is pretty computational intensive (but tons of optimizations have been taken in place).

• DYNGENRE: -> Score + Simplifed Distance
  Uses a simplification of the GRAPH method. Let's say we assign a number to every "big" cluster of points on the music graph, then we can simply put any genre/style point into any of those clusters and give them a value.

Other features

• Fully configurable tag remapping, weights, etc.
• The comparison pool can be filtered with multiple filters:
  • Global forced query (for example to always exclude live tracks).
  • Dynamic queries based on the reference track.
  • Genre cultural filters.
  • Artist cultural filters (using World-Map-SMP's database).
  • Similar artists.
  • Genre influences.
• The final selection can be choosen from the pool following 4 methods.
  • By score.
  • By probability.
  • Randomly.
  • Using harmonic mixing.
• The final selection (aka playlist) can be sorted following 3 methods:
  • Smart shuffle: like Spotify, intercalating artists with configurable bias.
  • Scattering instrumentals: Intercalate instrumental tracks breaking clusters if possible.
  • By score.
  • Randomly.
• Recursive playlist creation (where output tracks are used as new references, and so on).
• Influences and anti-influences playlists.
• There are some custom buttons which may be set according to user preferences, even its own name: 'buttons_search_bydistance_customizable.js'.
• Computing of 'Similar artist' tags using tracks from your library (and thus not based on popularity like online sources).
• Much more...

Note about editing 'helpers/music_graph_descriptors_xxx.js' or user file

Graph behavior, new genres or substitutions may be tweaked by the user. Changes to the descriptors may be added to an user file instead of editing the original descriptor: 'helpers/music_graph_descriptors_xxx_user.js'. Check sample for more info.

Also integrates

1. Music-Graph: An open source graph representation of most genres and styles found on popular, classical and folk music.
2. Camelot-Wheel-Notation: Javascript implementation of the Camelot Wheel, ready to use "harmonic mixing" rules and translations for standard key notations.

Compatible with (toolbar)

1. Playlist-Tools-SMP: Offers different pre-defefined examples for intelligent playlist creation.
2. Device-Priority-SMP: Automatic output device selection.
3. ListenBrainz-SMP: Integrates Listenbrainz's feedback and recommendations.
4. Autobackup-SMP: Automatic saving and backup of configuration and other data in foobar2000.

Installation

See _TIPS and INSTALLATION (txt) and the Wiki. Not properly following the installation instructions will result in scripts not working as intended. Please don't report errors before checking this.