ALPACA: An Algorithmic Pipeline for Automated Contour Annotation of Carnatic Music: A Dynamic Programming Framework for Pitch Segmentation and Note Transcription

Abstract

In recent years, a wide range of computational techniques have been developed to extract information from recorded performances of Western music. However, these methods often achieve limited success when applied to non-Western musical traditions. Carnatic music, in particular, poses unique challenges due to the absence of a standardized notation system and the lack of a consistent mapping between frequency bands and note categories. This project introduces a dynamic programming–based transcription framework, incorporating novel methods for label estimation, contour segmentation, and related subtasks, and establishes the foundations for end-to-end automatic transcription of this art form.