Semitonesteg

Semitonesteg is a term used in the field of musical steganography to describe a method of covert communication embedded in pitch-related features of a musical piece. The name combines semitone, the smallest standard interval in Western tonal systems, and steganography, the practice of concealing messages within ordinary media.

Definition and concept. Semitonesteg encodes information by selecting among discrete semitone options within a given musical context—such as a melody, harmony, or tuning system—to represent data. The goal is to make the encoding imperceptible to casual listeners while allowing a recipient with the appropriate decoding method to recover the hidden message.

Encoding approaches. Possible strategies include using alternative spellings or microtonal tunings for notes, where different options correspond to binary or multi-bit values. Another approach is to exploit subtle intonation differences or carefully chosen pitch sequences that do not materially alter the musical impression but provide a channel for data. Decoding may require a predefined key, a particular tuning reference, or a signal-processing step that isolates the semitone choices.

Applications and limitations. Semitonesteg is discussed in theory as a way to watermark or authenticate musical works, or to enable covert communication within a musical performance. Practical challenges include ensuring reliability across instruments and tunings, avoiding perceptible disruption of the music, and navigating ethical or legal considerations around covert encoding.

See also. Steganography, audio watermarking, musical cryptography, microtonal music.