Matons

A "maton" is a unit of time equal to the amount of time between the start of one musical beat and the start of the next in a piece of music. Essentially, it is the duration of one beat. The term is often used in the context of algorithmic composition and computer music, where precise timing and manipulation of rhythmic structures are essential. The length of a maton is inversely proportional to the tempo of the music; a faster tempo results in a shorter maton duration, and vice versa. While not a standard musical term widely recognized outside of specific digital music production circles, it serves as a practical and unambiguous way to refer to the fundamental unit of time within a musical context, particularly when working with digital audio workstations (DAWs) and programming languages designed for music creation. The concept is fundamental to synchronizing musical events and creating complex rhythmic patterns. The term allows for precise quantification of musical timing, enabling more controlled and predictable results in automated music generation and manipulation.