Lavalamp as MIDI controller…

via hotchk155:

6 voltage-dividing pairs of light dependent resistors arranged round a standard lavalamp and read by analog inputs of Muduino (arduino clone) to generate semi-random streams of MIDI continuous controller messagesMIDI controllers then mapped to various controls in Propellerheads Reason.. just to see what happens really… Result is rather addictive and hypnotic… turn up the speakers, watch the lamp, turn into a zombie

This video captures a demo of Arvo Pärt style Max/MSP algorithmic composition.

via akihikotube

Automatic Drone Machine – a modular synth patch via dougcl.

Patch details:

Eurorack modular synthesizer generating a random selection of drones. The main sound is a Cwejman VCO-2RM sine ring modded with a Blacet Miniwave. The “percussion” part is the same audio further ring modded with a PlanB M15 sine wave, or a Cwejman VCO-6 ring modded with a Doepfer A-117 (selected by a Doepfer A-134-2 crossfader at random) then passing through the Makenoise QMMG low pass gate. The pitch control of all the VCOs is shared and selected via Doepfer A-148 sample and hold

via isopod: Brent talks about the mystery of self-programming synths – the fact that old batteries sometimes lead to synth patches that are actually pretty cool.

A lot of people take an Eno-esque view – that the quirky results can lead to something more interesting than you might program yourself, or at least provide an interesting starting point.

Many TB-303 owners find that they get interesting random sequences, too, when their batteries get old.

Have you ever had this happen with one of your synths? And do you think synths should come with a “Randomize Patch” button?

Free Mac Music Software: GWS RanPan is a free random pan effect for OS X, which can be synced to tempo:

I couldn’t find an effect that did this when I wanted to apply it to my own music project, so I whipped it up myself. Now any audio application that hosts Audio Units can take advantage of this plugin to randomly pan sound around in sync with the beat!

Version 2.8 adds 64-bit to the Universal Binary, and fixes a problem with the number formatting in the text fields of the user interface. This version requires Mac OS X 10.5 or greater. For more information, see “GWS RanPan Read Me” in the zipped disk image file.

Universal GWS RanPan is a Universal Binary, includes a 64-bit binary, and is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and 10.6 Snow Leopard.

This is a video demo of the GotharMusic deMOON synthesizer.

Description:

The deMOON is an affordable 4 note polyphonic filterbank synthesizer with built-in granulator and distortion effects, step-sequencer and note randomizer. Small and compact in size with a great sound. Four oscillator’s and four LFO’s with continuously variable waveforms and four resonant multimode filters that can be parallel/serial connected how you like.

Specs:

• 4 voices with each 1 oscillator or 1 voice with 4 oscillators in unison mode.
• Oscillators has continuously variable and modulatable waveforms.
• 4 resonant multimode filters (lpf/bpf/hpf) that are separately programmable and each can be parallel or serial connected to each other.
• Distortion effect with 5 different types.
• Granulator effect build in.
• 4 LFO\rquote s with continuously variable and modulatable waveforms.
• 2 envelopes.
• Note randomizer.
• 32-step step sequencer.
• Most parameters can be controlled by a midi-controller.
• Small and compact.
• Memory: 128 sounds and sequences.
• Output: 16-bit delta-sigma with 256x oversampling.

PRICE: €250

via basse1303:

Check out the deMOON on our website: http://www.highendtentacles.dk

This is a visual tour and demo of Xoxos Hyperion, an algorithmic sequencing VST.

Hyperion MIDI VST has a semi-modular structure suitable for a wide variety of tuned algorithmic applications. LFOs and counters are used to easily create dynamic MIDI sequences and change them on the fly, or to modulate other components of the architecture.

Hyperion produces glissandos or subtly varying sequences for up to three parts on three separate MIDI channels using a simple chord function. It can also be used as a phrase arpeggiator to make sure that you never play out of key or out of sequence.

Hyperion is available for $25. The demo is limited to bpm settings.

JeffreyPlaide’s Non Objective Variable Noesis is an exercise in random and improvised structures:

This musical piece explores alternate textures and combinations.

Using the TS-404 software synthesizer, various short improvised melody lines were created with multiple step sequences and doubled with stereo echo, flanging and chorus effects. The improvised simple lines were looped to produce combinational polyrhythms.

The bassline was created on a Korg R3 synthesizer. The composition concludes with randomised textures and heavy reverberation ending with a slowed down version of the original melody. The piece is to be appreciated on an intellectual level as the direction of the music is based on structure rather than harmony, creating unusual rhythms.

The visuals are from a variety of expressive television sources superimposed together with colour channel mixing effects to create a psychedelic effect. Overlayed with this are modulated geometric animations to create visual rhythms.

This is a lo-fi introduction to the Bend Matrix JoyToy, from 4ms Pedals, a sort of uber-gadget for circuit bent music making.

Two circuit-bent toys are directly wired to a Bend Matrix, which can sequence them as well as process MIDI in/out (MIDI not shown in this video).

The Bend Matrix JoyToy retails for $790.

Description:

The  Bend Matrix. Selectable 4×8 Matrix or Dual 2×4. Four analog real-time controls and 16 effects, MIDI in/out. Sixteen 1/4″ jacks, sixteen banana jacks (may be substituted for 1/8″ or RCA). Sixteen banks of 8 patches each, with sequencer and long-term memory.

Suitable for controlling circuit bent instruments, patching modular synths, routing effects/signals/video/etc. MIDI functionality can be custom programmed to your needs (note on/off, CC, pitchwheel)

via 4mspedals

The Game of Life Sequencer Bank is based on a game of life sequencer screencast produced by Wesen in 2008. It is a bank of 6 step or drum sequencers that generate patterns based on the basics of Conway’s Game of Life cellular automaton. Each sequencer operates independently of the others, and can be configured in a variety of ways.

The Game of Life Sequencer Bank is written in Java using the Processing, controlP5 and a customized RWMidi library. It should work wherever Java 1.5 is available (Windows, OS X, Linux), though it has only been tested in Windows and Linux.

The Game Of Life Sequencer is a free download.

Need a little bit of aleatoric weirdness in your music?

Illuminated Sounds has released Random7, a free random MIDI generating program created with MAX/MSP:

I created this fun little application I’m calling Random7.  It is basically a 8 step sequencer that outputs midi by randomly selecting from the 7 notes in the various scales pictured above, and also randomly selects the velocity of each of the notes.

The layout is very simple, the drop down menu lets you select your scale, noteout lets you choose your midi i/o, the start/stop button does just that, the knob adjusts speed, and you can click on any of the red spots to trigger a note manually.  It produces great background music, I like to have it trigger one of my piano soft synths in Ableton via midi yoke.

Now this is my first program written in MAX so it might not be the most effient app yet, but I do plan on digging back into it later on, so if you have any feedback it would be much appreciated.  Also I am new to the building an application process in MAX, so I believe this version will only work on windows systems.  I’ll be posting the Mac version as soon as I figure out how to make it.  Enjoy.

You can preview a track made with Random 7 below. Details on Random7 are available here.

The original Oblique Strategies is a deck of cards created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, first published in 1975, and now in its fifth edition.

Each card contains a phrase or cryptic remark which can be used to break a deadlock or dilemma situation.

From the introduction to the 2001 edition:

“These cards evolved from separate observations of the principles underlying what we were doing. Sometimes they were recognised in retrospect (intellect catching up with intuition), sometimes they were identified as they were happening, sometimes they were formulated.”

“They can be used as a pack, or by drawing a single card from the shuffled pack when a dilemma occurs in a working situation. In this case the card is trusted even if its appropriateness is quite unclear…”

The Oblique Strategies app is free and open source.

Cut-up text

It was used notably by William S. Burroughs in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and influenced the work of David Bowie, Curt Cobain and others. More recently, cut-up text has been used by email spammers to create text that will get around spam filters. Because of the huge volume of spam that is generated, some interesting examples have emerged, which are called “spamoetry.”

Here’s an example:

Then, from sea to shining sea, the God-King sang the praises of teflon, and with his face to the sunshine, he churned lots of butter.

The Cutup Engine cuts up text and makes something different out of the pieces. You can provide the text directly, or URLs of things on the web.

Here’s a randomized chunk of a recent Synthtopia article:

more occupied the time, including DJs, as the one we DJs, promoters and camera men doing it, but in pretend to the head in promoters and with her dancing two CDs, and she was when she involved in any kind crowd that she was really DJ, when she just acting. to get in fact the movements the mixer to pretend the DJ box at the use in the movements to get involved the time, including DJs, promoters in the DJ box at DJs, promoters and camera set from one or two music set from one or her dancing movements real, just acting.

an already pre-mixed music at the time, including she was faking the movements of beat-matching or mixing. for real, just acting.” she was really any kind mixing the from a tiny CD wallet as the one and was just movements to get we use box at the and was just making purely a fraud. 

via strangeattractor

This Replicant screencast by Chris Randall demos the latest sound mangling software from Audio Damage.

Here’s the Replicant description:

Replicant is a delay-based effect in the “beat slicer/looper” vein, with some tricks of its own that separate it from the herd. From a simple delay or panning effect, on up to massive random beat mangling, Replicant is a capable plugin well in line with today’s modern electronic music styles. Stuttering buffers and filter drops are easy to program, and the comprehensive randomization features give it a mind of its own, if so desired. If you’re looking to add some chance to your programming, you’ve come to the right place.

Replicant is available as a VST effect for Windows, and as an AudioUnit/VST effect bundle for OSX Universal Binary. Note that you must have OSX 10.3.9 or greater to use the Macintosh version of this plugin.

Features:

• Tempo-based delay and looping effects, from 1/128th note to an entire measure.
• Six independant randomization controls, for subtle changes or extreme aleatoric madness, including a global randomize button.
• Unique “Hold” feature, to store a random sequence you like.
• Resonant low-pass and high-pass filters that change over time.
• Pan position that changes over time.
• Two separate direction modes, for entire events or individual repeats, with randomization.
• Full MIDI Learn for hardware control of every parameter. (VST only; handled by host in AU version).

Audio demos are available at the site.

The Dipping Duck Orchestra: Music randomly generated by dipping ducks (AKA happy birds, drinking birds, dippy birds, happy ducks… etc) Using the basic parts of a keyboard, each duck is hooked up to a note of the octave. As their beak touches the water in the glass the circuit is completed and the sound is produced.

Remote Controlled Hand – A hybrid of a remote controlled car & mechanical hand generates random music.

The car is controlled by an altered remote, which is triggered by 2 desk fans. When the fans are directed at the remote, contacts are blown together and the circuit is completed, sending the car up and down the keyboard in random directions.

You can also see her artwork at flickr.

via todayandtomorrow

Atomic is a 16 step sequencer composing tool with a built in synth that also has the ability to control other softsynths or even hardware via its MIDI out function.

The design is circular, inspired by step sequencers such as the Buchla Arbitrary Function Generator and Future Retro Revolution.

You can preview Atomic below:

Sequencer:

• 16 step sequencer in a circular design with 3 rows: seminotes, velocity
• and gate.
• BPM Rate with 5 modes including random.
• Separate rhythm grid.
• Advanced arpeggiator with separate rate, 5 modes with gate and octave controls.
• Latch mode for continuous play.
• MIDI Out for use in modular hosts which also includes LFO’s and
• step modulators to control external vst’s or hardware.

Synth:

• 2 Oscillators with 14 waveforms including additive partials.
• Separate phase controls, detune and octave as well as harmonic tuning mode.
• VCF with 4 filter types with velocity control.
• 2 dedicated envelope generators, one for amp and one for filter.
• 2 LFOs, Sub Oscillator, Step Modulator, Random Generator and Keyboard control
• with zone and mod wheel assign which includes sequencer controls for step and
• rate.
• Comprehensive mod matrix.

Effects

• X-Y delay with separate multimode filters which can be modulated via mod matrix.
• Spacial stereo reverb
• Phaser with wide sweeping range.
• Master section with volume, pan and tuning
• CC map for hardware MIDI knob controllers.

Plan B Heisenberg Generator, originally uploaded by thumbuki.

The Model 24 Heisenberg Generator is the first computer-based module in the Plan B line.

Taking it’s name from Werner Heisenberg (the father of the Uncertainty Principle), the Model 24’s primary function is a dual wide-band random voltage generator producing simultaneous and fully independent stepped and smooth arbitrary voltages.

Along with these random events, it can also be used as a Sample and Hold, a VC Lag Processor, a VC Trigger Generator, a Gate to Trigger Converter or a Digital Noise Source. The Model 24 also provides VC inputs for all of its tactile controls. While totally self contained – producing its own pacing triggers and random states – its also open ended, and will accept external triggers and voltages independently.

I need one of these babies – but I’m using the MOTM format. It would be great if all the modular makers would support MOTM! Plan B’s grown into quite the line-up, though.