Grooving with B.A.C.H.

video upload by Kaona Modular Music

"A short example of B.A.C.H. in use, featuring its Groove mode."

Playing a Fugue with B.A.C.H.

video upload by Kaona Modular Music

"A short musical example with B.A.C.H., a generative Eurorack module.

Here, B.A.C.H. is used to build a polyphonic fugue, with several voices developing and interacting over time.

B.A.C.H. was designed to explore generative composition, counterpoint, repetition and evolution (without trying to replace the musician!)."

B.A.C.H. generates melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures in real time. At each clock pulse, it determines the activity of the four tracks, along with their pitches, durations and dynamics. The result is shaped by the selected compositional language and the constraints defined by the musician.

The module controls a modular system directly through its Gate, Pitch and Mod outputs. It can also control MIDI synthesizers and sound modules. Each voice has its own configurable MIDI channel.

Twelve compositional languages
FUGUE constructs a multi-voice exposition from a subject, answers, a countersubject and episodes.

CANON develops a leading line through imitation, transposition, delay, contrary motion, retrograde or augmentation.

PROBA uses Markov chains and several transition vocabularies to produce directed randomness.

TINTINNABULI combines a melodic voice with voices whose notes are drawn from a triad or the current chord.

MINIMAL applies gradual processes of phase shifting, addition, substitution and hocketing.

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Wavetable Synthesist Ultimate Stash | Serum, Dune, Codex, Kontakt, Falcon, VCV, Reaktor, Eurorack

video upload by Ocean Swift / Faxi Nadu

"Buy now on intro offer, 10e instead of 20e!
👉 https://oceanswift.net/product/waveta...

Unlock endless sound design potential with this comprehensive bundle of eight Ocean Swift wavetable packs, all in one place. The two primary packs alone contain hundreds of meticulously crafted wavetables and single cycles, available in various formats (window sizes and cycles per file), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of wavetable synthesizers. This includes Porphyra Hybrid, Serum, Kontakt, Codex, Surge, Ableton Live, Dune 2 & 3, Defiant WT, Reaktor, MUX Modular, KV331 Audio SynthMaster, VCV Seven Seas, Vital, Eurorack modules, hardware synths, and many others.

In addition, you'll get six unique "Automaton" packs, each offering 1000 algorithmically generated wavetable files (2048 window size and 100 cycles per file), with every pack designed using a distinct algorithm, ensuring fresh and experimental sound creation possibilities.

Some of these wavetables have been featured as factory content in leading synths such as Native Instruments Kontakt, UVI Falcon, Native Instrument Conflux, Ocean Swift Enterprise, Polyphenom, Defiant WT, and Porphyra Hybrid, making this Wavetable Synthesist Ultimate Stash a must-have for any serious sound designer or music producer."

nervoussquirrel's Conway's Game

via nervoussquirrel

A cellular automaton pattern generator that also functions as a MIDI to trigger converter.

Legendary mathematician John Horton Conway's "Game of Life" algorithm is generated and displayed on the 8x8 LED matrix, with the activity of the cells mapped to the outputs below.

The MIDI input can also be used to control 64 separate trigger outputs.

If you're not familiar with Conway's Game of Life, a brief explanation:

Imagine a grid of cells, each of which can be in two states, either alive or dead. A set of simple rules determine what happens to each cell, depending on the state of neighbouring cells.

For each step in time:

(1) Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbours dies, as if caused by underpopulation.

(2) Any live cell with two or three live neighbours lives on to the next generation.

(3) Any live cell with more than three live neighbours dies, as if by overpopulation.

(4) Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbours becomes a live cell, as if by reproduction.

The module makes use of these rules, applying them to an 8x8 grid of cells.

The generated patterns can then be used as an interesting source of triggers, which may be used to sequence drums, envelope generators, or any other modules with trigger or gate inputs.

After selecting a pseudo-random set of starting conditions for the cells, the simulation will run until the cells either die out, or end in a stable loop. If the cells die out or end in a stationary configuration, the simulation will reset with a new set of starting conditions. Loops can end up as the classic "glider" or "blinker", or more elaborate patterns.

Features and controls

MIDI IN: The module responds to notes ranging from C2 / note 36 to E7 / note 100.

CLOCK IN: By default the internal clock runs at 10Hz, but the clock input allows other sources to set the speed up to about 270Hz. After 270Hz things start getting weird, which of course is not necessarily a bad thing! Run it from any source of gates or triggers - LFO, VCO, or even audio for timing strangeness.

RESET: Clears the current loop and starts with a new set of cells. Also clears stuck MIDI notes if necessary.

MIDI / LIFE: Selects MIDI or Game of Life mode.

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@Sequential Take 5 Demo Part. 4 | No Talking |

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

Timeline
0:00 Intro
0:09 Intensity
0:49 Pro Rez Bass
1:13 Velocity Bell Gliss
1:51 Voyager 2
2:22 Automaton
2:41 Wheely Textures
3:11 Fragmntd Memry
3:48 MelancholyFM
4:40 Medieval Market
5:10 Neon Pad
6:38 Shimmersauce

Philip Glass Riff Automaton

video upload by boxoftextures

"In which we create a Philip Glass Riff Automaton in order to be able to simply put our feet up and listen forever.

About a week ago I saw a random tweet of a YouTube video organ piece from Satyagraha, and for some reason it came to me that I could have the riff play and then alternate between two different versions of it. Well, it took me almost that whole week to get it working but I'm pretty happy with the results. I could see taking this and going much further with it—having more than two parts , for example, as well as adding harmonies, counterpoints, and bass drones—but for now this is a good proof of concept showing it's indeed possible to get it working. Had to figure out how to get all the logic flowing properly, and luckily Voltage Modular has a good selection of switching and logic modules available.

The video that got me started:
Satyagraha, Act III - King: Part 3 https://youtu.be/8sF2ykI-ong

Featuring
Voltage Modular, from Cherry Audio

Other Modules Used
From Playertron: Switchboard
From HetrickCV: Flip-Flop, Boolean Logic
From Andrew Macaulay: Trigger Delay, Micro Switch, Dual Counter, Micro Envelope VCA
From P-moon: Buttons 2/1
From haslo: Hääschen

Screen capture video recorded and edited in ScreenFlow
Audio routing done in Loopback, from Rogue Amoeba
Voiceover recorded in Felt Tip Sound Studio, using an Audio Technica BPHS1 broadcast headset

Twitter: https://twitter.com/selgart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boxoftextures

Chapters
00:00 The Manual Switching Version
11:59 The Logic Diagram
14:26 The Automatically Switching Version"

17 Mins With A Buchla Automaton

video by zack dagoba

"A self-playing patch:

Two VCOs (258) are cross modulated to produce an evolving sequence of clocks, not just random because the interactive nature of the cross modulation creates unexpected pauses and clusters - the envelope follower (model 230) helps in extracting the clocks. These are sent to an LPG which gates a modulating sound from the 259 - the main tone. The MARF sequences pitches, but these are shifted with a clocked random voltage, changing every 5 or 7 pulses (using the MARF programmable pulse out feature) There are 5 LFOs (281s) all slightly different, and being clocked by more scaled down pulses from the MARF, so the LFOs are locked into the main set of pulses. The signal is split into several paths, one goes to the 277 delay (being modified by the same random voltage mentioned above) and the other going to the spring reverb, also being modified (by an LFO). These also go into 2 bandpass filters, being modulated with row 2 of the MARF. The stereo signal is being modified as well and the whole lot goes into the Buchla 100 signal leveller (model 172) and vintage eq (model 175)"

Generative Modular Beats in Pure Data

Published on Nov 14, 2019 Fahmi M.

"Generative modular beats made with Automatonism patch in Pure Data.

You can download another sounds of that patch, here:
https://ideologikal.bandcamp.com/albu...

* Modular synthesis is akin to musical gardening: modules can spring to life and their interconnections suggest the formation of a sonic ecosystem. The act of patching is no different to playing any other instrument: it affords the opportunity to express oneself and directly engage with other people.

Automatonism is the name of both the modular synthesiser in Pure Data and the creative output of its developer, Johan Eriksson. A PhD student at Birmingham Conservatoire, UK, Eriksson works at the intersection of composition, performance and instrument design.

His research explores new ways of making music with modular synths by highlighting the partnership between human and the automaton.

His first modular project, Xodular, arrived during a new wave of interest in modular synthesis and gained notable popularity for a freeware instrument.

Automatonism builds on Xodular, adding more modules and features for greater performability and expressiveness, while also encouraging players to delve into the making of generative algorithms.

Pure Data is a visual programming language developed by Miller Puckette in the 1990s for creating interactive computer music and multimedia works."

NYZ - NTE GDN => Behind the scenes with the Yamaha FB-01

Photo Credit: Calum Gunn * all other pix by NYZ *

"The new NYZ - NTE GDN tape on Conditional is just out [limited edition of 50 copies]! Matrix heard on the synth grapevine that it heavily featured the Yamaha FB-01 operating in a secret sysex mode, so he asked me if I'd write a little about how it was used. You can check the album out on the Conditional Bandcamp page here, release date July 6th =>

and have a listen while reading. Its also available from Boomkat [with track previews] =>

Boomkat review => "Blinding new batch of synth and computer music chaos from Dave Burraston’s cultishly regarded NYZ. With such a wild variation to his purist approach it’s perhaps silly to draw comparisons or contrasts, but these are patently some of NYZ’s sweeter treats, such as the curdled harmonics of ‘ARTOFNYZbitcompander’ and the funky lil’ vamps of ‘RLD syncs’ for more insatiable and curious listeners. In other words it’s fucking ace!"

and Norman Records =>

Norman Records review => "9/10 Conditional unleash this beautifully wild and playful tape from David Burraston aka NYZ. Here he harnesses the spectrum splitting potential of John Chowning’s FM synthesis to birth and animate ludicrously cute and cuddly synthetic creatures that come to life before our very ears. What even are these little mutant alien lifeforms? Where is this strange place in which they dwell?

The overall experience of imbibing these sounds is a lot like an experience I once had watching Teletubbies on acid, where I thought the little blighters were actually communicating directly to me. This world NYZ has created and its inhabitants are clearly fantasy, but it’s so brilliantly, vividly realised and skillfully executed that if you just let go of the shackles of reality and submit yourself, it can be an authentic place where these things live and breathe, eat and sleep and go through their life cycle. We get to hang out with them as they speak, sing, laugh and cry. I’d much rather hang out with these chirpy little fellows because humans are the absolute worst. For music to get a miserable, misanthropic, curmudgeon bastard like me to grin like a child holding a cookie the size of its head is quite an achievement.

This tape is just so much fun - it's like a little utopia for the most part, but there are occasional darker moments - at times it feels like the big bad wolf or some kind of predator is lurking with intent to gobble up our little friends. Burraston’s custom-built MANIAC Cellular Automata Sequencer is instrumental in giving life to these sounds - a tool that gives this work a unique voice and an unpredictable energy that seems to organically flow through his machines. This music is most certainly unconventional even by avant-garde standards, and although on the surface is definitely weird and kinda eccentric, it taps into something deeper. Like Victor Frankenstein’s unorthodox scientific experiment in Mary Shelley's novel where scientist becomes an architect of life. This place, it's lifeforms and their language seems bewilderingly genuine - a sonic virtual reality -- a hybrid analogue/digital world where what is “real” and synthetic is blurred."


So why am I interested in the strange and esoteric Yamaha FB-01, and what are these secret sysex codes? Well, first up its a nice little 8 voice FM synth, and I'm well known for being a bit obsessed with FM [see the NYZ - DRN4 Declassified article]. Secondly, its a kind of in-between synth, arriving after the first 4 operator synths, such the DX21, but before the TX81Z which featured a full microtonal tuning table. Its this inbetweeness that really interested me, and its really the only first gen sine wave only 4op that can be micro-tuned, albeit in a very roundabout way via some secret sysex codes.

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Automaton Subsystem - Chiptune Dub Reggae with Nintendo NES, Game Boy and Commodore 64

Published on Aug 1, 2017 Synthesized

"Automaton Subsytem Live at the Centre For Computing History for Music for Geeks Night. Automaton Subsystem uses a Nintendo NES, Game Boy and Commodore 64 to create the chiptune flavoured dub reggae with a bassline so deep you can feel it ..."

Conway's Game of Life synth module

Published on Dec 5, 2016 thenervoussquirrel

"Quick test of a trigger module for modular synth. 64 outputs controlled by a MIDI input, or 'game of life' mode using John Conway's cellular automaton rules.

The video shows a few percussion modules connected, but it can of course be used to trigger envelope generators, sequencer steps etc.

Synth page: www.nervoussquirrel.com/modular

Uses one of those lovely 8x8 LED matrices by Adafruit.

Based on Tyler Hyndman's code: https://github.com/tylo42/Arduino-Gam..."

::vtol:: signes de vie

::vtol:: signes de vie from ::vtol:: on Vimeo.

"'Signes de vie' ('Signs of Life') is a light model of a simple cell colony built on the principles of one-dimensional cellular automaton.

The object is a light and sound mechanism that is based on an old fax machine. A fluorescent dye is applied on special fax paper and thermal printing element is replaced by a row of 10 LEDs. As it goes through a step-by-step under the row of diodes, it leaves on a paper a glowing trace from short flashes: a row that corresponds to one generation of cellular automaton. Gradually, each of the rows fade and is being replaced by a new one, but the glowing time is enough to see the whole pattern of the colony."

more info: http://vtol.cc/filter/works/signes-de-vie

chris randall - texteral

YouTube Published on Aug 12, 2012 by Cranda11

"A little late-night jam on some old-school IDM stylee.

Gear used: Ableton Live, Audio Damage Phosphor, Replicant, Filterstation, and Automaton, Native Instruments Maschine, Eventide Space, Access Virus, and MeeBlip."

http://www.audiodamage.com/
http://www.analogindustries.com/

MOOZAK and E-MAY (pia palme, electric indigo, elisabeth schimana, dasos)

YouTube Uploaded by klubmoozak on Sep 29, 2011

"pia palme - electric indigo - elisabeth schimana und der max brand synthesizer - dasos (in order of appearance),
*video by uli kühn

4 years moozak, 5 years e-may @ fluc wanne wien

this is not a documentation video, this is to help
meorize...
instruments on stage: kempelen sprechmaschine, korg ms-10, max brand synthesizer (proto moog), 6 macintosh SE..."

via Wikipedia on the sprechmaschine:

"Wolfgang von Kempelen's Speaking Machine is a manually-operated speech synthesizer that began development in 1769, by Austro-Hungarian author and inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen. It was in this same year that he completed his far more infamous contribution to history: The Turk, a chess-playing automaton, later revealed to be a very far-reaching and elaborate hoax due to the chess-playing human-being occupying its innards.[4] But while the Turk’s construction was completed in six months, Kempelen’s Speaking Machine occupied the next twenty years of his life.[2] After two conceptual “dead ends” over the first five years of research, Kempelen’s third direction ultimately led him to the design he felt comfortable deeming “final”: a functional representational model of the human vocal tract.[3]..." See Wikipedia for more.

Another Massive Automaton Morning

YouTube Uploaded by resonantfilterblog on Aug 15, 2011

"Drum beat using Reaktor's Massive ensemble with two tracks of field recordings all sent thru Audio Damage's Automaton with a touch of reverb."

Massive Automaton Morning

YouTube Uploaded by resonantfilterblog on Aug 13, 2011

"I've been enjoying playing with the Reaktor ensemble Massive lately, thanks in no small part to bkallmer's tutorials on bluewatervst.com. In this sketch I'm using a beat written with the Gogood snapshot ran thru Audio Damage's Automaton effects device - one of my favorites!"

Empty Nest

YouTube Uploaded by resonantfilterblog on Mar 29, 2011

"Quick improv using Camel Audio's Alchemy (Biolabs Tuned Gong) being controlled by Audio Damage's Tattoo, with an additional Tattoo for beats. Additional sounds created with Reaktor Mirage ensemble by Peter Dines loaded with Luftrum samples courtesy of Freesound.org. The whole mess is being routed into Audio Damage's Automaton (Stutter Step variation.) Thanks for checking out my Tuesday morning improv session! L.72"

Monomatic - Modular Music Box, Electromagnetic Music Sequencer 2010

YouTube Uploaded by MediaArtTube on Mar 13, 2011

"The Modular Music Box consists of several interconnected, plug-and-play devices that collectively reproduce the functionality of the familiar 19th century clockwork musical instrument.
At the heart of the piece is a custom-made electro-magnetic rotary sequencer. Melodies are stored on a series of interchangeable, acrylic, 10" disks embedded with small magnets arranged in a regular circular grid. In the same way vinyl records are located on a turntable these disks are centered on a spindle and rotate over a 'play head' made up of a line of magnetic field sensors -- effectively replicating but superseding the set of pins on the revolving cylinder that pluck the tuned teeth of a steel comb in the traditional device. Additional units are 'daisy-chained' to each other via single cables and include a self contained and controllable sound source (to hear and effect the musical output) and an animated representation of a dancing ballerina automaton -- realised as a modern-day interpretation of the praxinoscope (the successor to the zoetrope -- the popular visual parlour toy of its era -- but which improved on it by replacing its narrow viewing slits with an inner circle of mirrors).
Monomatic : Nick Rothwell and Lewis Sykes
http://www.monomatic.net/"

glitchmod - glitchDS in Reaktor

YouTube via clone45a6 | February 14, 2011 |

"This is a cellular automaton sequencer in Reaktor based on the original "Life" sequencer, but simplified. It's now available in the Reaktor user library. By Bret Truchan, the original GlitchDS author.

Credits:
- Co-author: Justice Emge
- Drum sounds from rhythm-lab.com
- Some samples from sampleswap.org
- Based on the original Life cellular automaton engine"

Runxt Life – Introduction

Runxt Life – Introduction from Firma 103 on Vimeo.

"Runxt Life is a generative music application created for the iOS® platform based on the cellular automaton theory “Conway’s Game of Life” by John Horton Conway.

The ‘game’ is a zero-player game, meaning that its evolution is determined by its initial state, requiring no further input from humans. One interacts with the Game of Life by creating an initial configuration and observing how it evolves.

You can draw single cells or a predefined pattern stamp on a two dimensional grid. This pattern will evolve according to the rules of “Conway’s Game of Life” after you press ‘play’ or ‘step forward’. Five different colors each represent a different sound or channel.

Runxt Life uses the output of the grid, affected by a few parameters, to either generate sounds or send midi notes to your computer with the help of the Runxt Life – OSC to MIDI application. In this application you can configure which color is sent to which midi channel.

runxt.be"


iPads on eBay
iPod Touch on eBay

Bandwerk N°4 - Fragment 2 from Firma 103 on Vimeo.

Omnimatrix

YouTube via FSK1138 — February 16, 2010 — "omnimatrix

Korg legacy ms20 mapped to
Native Instruments Reaktor 5 running Newscool.ens

novation remote 37 sl auto-mapped to
Flstudio9 with Atomic vst synth
Audio Damage Automaton FX

and of course the omnimatrix :)"