Generative Music

[JohnTimm]

I've been interested in generative music for some time and thought I would try my hand at it in Reason 6.5. Here are some useful links on the subject:

Generative Music (lecture given by Brian Eno):
http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/eno1.html

Generative Ideas (pt. 1)
http://www.reason101.net/101-creativ...ve-ideas-pt-1/

Generative Ideas (pt. 2)
http://www.reason101.net/101-creativ...ve-ideas-pt-2/

Song without a Sequencer:
http://www.reason101.net/101-creativ...t-a-sequencer/

Generative music using Reason
https://medium.com/generative-music-using-reason

In my experiment I created a combinator and put a instance of Thor in it. I assigned a note from the C minor scale to each step in the sequencer. Then I selected the Multi-oscillator type and used oscillator tuning to turn those single notes into chords. I used the Curve 1 and 2 signals from the step sequencer to control whether the chord was major, minor or diminished. Then I put the sequencer into random mode, set the rate to it's lowest setting, hit RUN and recorded the output to an audio track. Here is a picture of my setup:

Screen Shot 2014-10-27 at 10.56.44 AM.jpg

I also put a random LFO with a very slow rate on the step sequencer rate, the low-pass filter frequency and the formant filter x value. Here is what the recorded audio sounds like:

https://soundcloud.com/johntimm/generative


I know it is quite simple, but it opens up some possibilities and provides a good "base layer" for other sustained notes and one-shot effects using a similar approach. Because I am using a random step sequencer and random LFO waveforms, each time I hit RUN I get a different experience.

Thanks,

JT

[S1gnsOfL1fe]

I'm a fan of generative music as well (as many others on the forum) and I think there's another thread dedicated to the topic.

I don't know if you're on Mac or PC, but if you're on Mac or have access to one...give Numerology a look. I use it all the time with my own music and the generative capabilities are certainly among the best.

Cheers and thanks for the links! Don't use Reason much anymore but still have a nostalgic affinity for the software.
-S1gns

[JohnTimm]

I'm a fan of generative music as well (as many others on the forum) and I think there's another thread dedicated to the topic.

I don't know if you're on Mac or PC, but if you're on Mac or have access to one...give Numerology a look. I use it all the time with my own music and the generative capabilities are certainly among the best.

Cheers and thanks for the links! Don't use Reason much anymore but still have a nostalgic affinity for the software.
-S1gns

Numerology looks like it has an incredibly rich set of features. If I ever leave the safety and warmth of the Reason environment, I will be sure to explore it further.

Thanks,

JT

[JohnTimm]

Here is another track generated using a method similar to the one above:
http://www.soundcloud.com/johntimm/generative-textures

[Cloud Hunter]

Thanks for sharing that Brian Eno lecture. As always, it's fascinating to hear what he has to say.
My track 'Cloud Hunter' was created in a similar way, by letting repeated sounds intermingle with one another.
http://thegreatschizm.bandcamp.com/track/cloud-hunter

[JohnTimm]

Thanks for sharing that Brian Eno lecture. As always, it's fascinating to hear what he has to say.
My track 'Cloud Hunter' was created in a similar way, by letting repeated sounds intermingle with one another.
http://thegreatschizm.bandcamp.com/track/cloud-hunter

I like your track. I think ambient and generative music are a great fit and could be why Eno was attracted to both. If ambient music is an aural environment, then it makes sense that said environment would be always changing, evolving, and morphing into something new. It would never be the same thing twice from one listener (or occupant) to the next.

Thanks,

JT

[Cloud Hunter]

Yes, well said.
Do you also know about the Longplayer? That's like generative music to the extreme; it's played on singing bowls and it works like a system of planets all orbiting and aligning once every 1000 years. Eno himself is involved in the project, as part of his work in the Long Now Foundation.
http://longplayer.org/

[JohnTimm]

Yes, well said.
Do you also know about the Longplayer? That's like generative music to the extreme; it's played on singing bowls and it works like a system of planets all orbiting and aligning once every 1000 years. Eno himself is involved in the project, as part of his work in the Long Now Foundation.
http://longplayer.org/

I had heard a mention of this but didn't know what exactly it was. Incredible! Very cool. Thanks for the link.

[JohnTimm]

FM bell sound with a long attack / release, lots of reverb and a noise oscillator:
https://soundcloud.com/johntimm/yawning-bells

[Toaster]

I've been using a generative sequencer called a "Zillion" for some things. Here's a video of me using it in a 'live in my bedroom' performace. It's handling the string like noises, with some other stuff:

The zillion is a modern clone of a Triadex Muse, with added goodness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triadex_Muse , if you're interested.

[JohnTimm]

I've been using a generative sequencer called a "Zillion" for some things. Here's a video of me using it in a 'live in my bedroom' performace. It's handling the string like noises, with some other stuff:

The zillion is a modern clone of a Triadex Muse, with added goodness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triadex_Muse , if you're interested.

Very cool! I see you are using the OP1 there as well. Nice. I need to play with one of those. Looks like a nice little setup for this kind of thing.

[windspace]

metaphase sound machine

From the article:

The Metaphase Sound Machine is an object with 6 rotating disks. Each of the discs is equipped with acoustic sound source (a speaker) and a microphone. Each of the microphones is connected via computer and the rotary axis to the speakers on the disks. Also in the center of installation a Geiger-Mueller counter is set, that detects ionizing radiation in the surrounding area. The intervals between these particles influence rotation velocity of each of the disks. Essentially the object is an audio- and kinetic installation in which a sound is synthesized based on feedbacks, produced by microphones and speakers on rotating discs.


http://vtol.cc/filter/works/metaphase-sound-machine

metaphase.jpg