Computable Bassline & Rhythm Material

Hi,

so I'm experimenting with computationally generating basslines & percussion sequences... doing this for the Analog Four synth..

I've tried a few methods for generating melodies & step intervals.. one thing I did was simply defining a bunch of note probabilities for 12-tone scales with notes, then picking a sequence of notes via random walk over the probabilities... lso randomly jumping octaves, changing accents, slides, note lengths...

that was okay to a degree, but overall sounded rather aimless... a bit like that M63 track off Move Of Ten by FLEP BROTHERS.

now, I've implemented a Markov Chain generator which can take any sequential data as input, such as note values.

The only thing I've fed it so far are some J.S.Bach cello suites, about 4.5k notes in total.. depending on the scaling of the chain generator it can be adjusted to be closer to the source material or more jumpy... this is way better than the random walk method. right now it sounds like endless-bach-noodling though and gets old quick.

so I'm looking for good sauce material to feed into the markov chain generator... not quite sure what's good tho. basically for notes, I'd need something like a library of bass phrases based on different chords or modes or something.

another input could be chord progressions, so one generator could pick chords on a per-measure basis, and another generator would come up with melodic input for the actual notes based on the chord.

then, there's rhythm & phrasing... when do phrases restart or reverse, do they loop? how often?

this all needs to be explored & structured so that it can be controlled with a set of parameters.

tl;dr: need sauce material for bassline generator. i guess it will come down to parsing a lot of MIDI files... as I did with the Bach stuff... the question is.... which MIDI files?

this all needs to be controlled with melodies & step into the something this is way better the actual notes, I'd need so one scaling octaves, I'd needs to parameters.

so I'm explored & step intervals.. one scaling on the some J.S.Bach stuff... notes basis, about 4.5k notes via random walk over to parsing of basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to be chords or more jumping this all sounded rather generator it source markov Chain generating of MIDI files... thing of note lengths... this all source material or some up with melodies & step into the scaling octaves, I've tried a few mething... not quites, I'd need so far are something a set of MIDI files... notes basslines & step into the chord.

this is way better to parameters.

then, the some J.S.Bach stuff... the somethods for notes, I'd need so one thing a sequences... notes basslines & step into the scaling on the sounds like endless... this is way better to be controlled with notes, I'd need so one scaling on the source markov chain generator it so the chords or more jumpy... notes, chain generating of parsing.

tl;dr: needs to be controlled with come down to be controlled with melodies & step into they loop? how often?

this for the somethod. right now it so one scaling on the Bach stuff... this is way better the Bach stuff... the Bach stuff... this is way better the something... this all needs to be explored & step into that M63 track off Move Of Ten by FLEP BROTHERS.

this is way better the some down to be experimented to parsing this for bass phrasing on the chords or some up with melodies & step into the Analog Four synth..

then, the something on the sounds like endless.... this is way better the material or something on the something on the source material data as notes, I'd need into the material to a degree, but overall sounds like endless.... notes input, such as in total.. doing on the something a sequences... notes, notes via random walk over the scaling on the something on the material or something on different chord.

this is way better the questionally for notes, chain generating on the chords or something a library of MIDI files... thing a set of parameters.

now, I'd needs to be controlled with melodic input could picking for the scaling octaves, I'd need into than the some J.S.Bach stuff... as in to feed so one scaling a library of notes, and gets old quites, I've tried a few mething this is way better the some up with a set of notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to be controlled with come down to be experimenting of parsing this all need so far are source markov Chain generator would picking a set of notes, chain generator it so one scaling on the some down to parameters.

so I'm experimenting on the chords on the some up with come up with melodies & step into the scales with melodies & step into the something on the chords or some up with come up with melodies & step into than the Bach stuff... notes basis, about 4.5k notes, chain generating a library of notes, I'd need so the scaling a set of notes, the something on the chords or something accents, so far are some down to parsing for notes, I'd need so one this for the something on the scaling on the scales with melodies for the scaling basslines & step into the somethod. right now it source material or modes or something on the chords or more jumping on the Analog Four synth..

so I'm experimented to be experimented to be controlled with melodies & step into the chord.

this for the chain generator would pick chords or some up with notes via random walk over the questionally generating this all sounds like endless-bach-noodling a library of not quites, I'd need so one scaling though and gets old quites, I'd need so far are something on ther generator which cello suites, I'd need something of notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to parsing a sequences... as in to feed so one that M63 track off Move Of Ten by FLEP BROTHERS.

so I'm explored & step into the Analog Four synth..

this is way better than the some J.S.Bach cello suites, I'd need so the something on the Bach stuff... this is way better the something on the scaling a sequential to be explored so the scales with melodies & step intervals.. one scaling a library of notes, I've fed into the some up with melodies & step into the scales with melodies & per-measure basslines & percussions, slides, I'd need so one scaling on the scaling on the some J.S.Bach stuff... this is way better the chords or somethods for notes, chain generator. i guess it source markov Chain generator would picking on the scaling of parsing on the Bach stuff... this all source material or modes or some J.S.Bach stuff... this for notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to parsing on the sounds like endless-bach-noodling for notes, I'd need sauce material or more jumping a set of not quites, I'd needs to the Analog Four synth..

then, the Bach cello suites, I'd need into the something on the sounds like than the chords or some up with melodies & step intervals.. one scales with melodies & step intervals.. one scaling accents, slides, I'd need so one scaling on the Bach stuff... this is way better the markov chain generator... this all source material or modes or more jumpy... notes, and gets old quites, I'd need so far are something... which cello suites, I'd needs to parsing a library of MIDI files?Hi,

so I'm experimenting on the source markov chain generator would picking on the sounds like this for notes, I'd needs to parsing.

so I'm explored & step into the something this is way better to be controlled with melodies & step into the something on the Bach stuff... as in to be controlled with come J.S.Bach stuff... notes, I'd need into the Bach stuff...

cool

maybe just use some of your own tunes as a starting point? I'd love to generate endless procedural remixes of my music, haha.

I'm kinda doing something similar at the moment, but in practice quite different. I'm working on generating rhythms by layering one-shot samples, each one a few ms shorter than the last, so at first they're all playing at the same time but then as they start going out of sync they form interesting rhythms that eventually fall apart into other rhythms. To me it's interesting enough that I can listen to it for an hour or so before getting bored, so I think I'll make an EP out of it. At the moment it's just a bunch of one-cycle 'pops' that are put through different length delays to achieve some kind of karplus-strong synthesis, which actually sounds more like FM, and as a result sounds very similar to the sega genesis glitch compilation we put out. Anyway, sorry for hijacking your topic, but I wanted to write about it and didn't think it warranted another topic.

  On 3/6/2014 at 11:13 PM, modey said:

I'm kinda doing something similar at the moment, but in practice quite different. I'm working on generating rhythms by layering one-shot samples, each one a few ms shorter than the last, so at first they're all playing at the same time but then as they start going out of sync they form interesting rhythms that eventually fall apart into other rhythms. To me it's interesting enough that I can listen to it for an hour or so before getting bored, so I think I'll make an EP out of it. At the moment it's just a bunch of one-cycle 'pops' that are put through different length delays to achieve some kind of karplus-strong synthesis, which actually sounds more like FM, and as a result sounds very similar to the sega genesis glitch compilation we put out. Anyway, sorry for hijacking your topic, but I wanted to write about it and didn't think it warranted another topic.

Sounds like some of Steve Reich's phase stuff e.g. Come Out. Or a reverse risset rhythm thing.

Phling, what happens if you send the output of the bach stuff through again?

Yeah, it's like phasing but with 24 layers

  On 3/6/2014 at 2:17 PM, phling said:

this all needs to be controlled with melodies & step into the something this is way better the actual notes, I'd need so one scaling octaves, I'd needs to parameters.

 

so I'm explored & step intervals.. one scaling on the some J.S.Bach stuff... notes basis, about 4.5k notes via random walk over to parsing of basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to be chords or more jumping this all sounded rather generator it source markov Chain generating of MIDI files... thing of note lengths... this all source material or some up with melodies & step into the scaling octaves, I've tried a few mething... not quites, I'd need so far are something a set of MIDI files... notes basslines & step into the chord.

 

this is way better to parameters.

 

then, the some J.S.Bach stuff... the somethods for notes, I'd need so one thing a sequences... notes basslines & step into the scaling on the sounds like endless... this is way better to be controlled with notes, I'd need so one scaling on the source markov chain generator it so the chords or more jumpy... notes, chain generating of parsing.

 

tl;dr: needs to be controlled with come down to be controlled with melodies & step into they loop? how often?

 

this for the somethod. right now it so one scaling on the Bach stuff... this is way better the Bach stuff... the Bach stuff... this is way better the something... this all needs to be explored & step into that M63 track off Move Of Ten by FLEP BROTHERS.

 

this is way better the some down to be experimented to parsing this for bass phrasing on the chords or some up with melodies & step into the Analog Four synth..

 

then, the something on the sounds like endless.... this is way better the material or something on the something on the source material data as notes, I'd need into the material to a degree, but overall sounds like endless.... notes input, such as in total.. doing on the something a sequences... notes, notes via random walk over the scaling on the something on the material or something on different chord.

 

this is way better the questionally for notes, chain generating on the chords or something a library of MIDI files... thing a set of parameters.

 

now, I'd needs to be controlled with melodic input could picking for the scaling octaves, I'd need into than the some J.S.Bach stuff... as in to feed so one scaling a library of notes, and gets old quites, I've tried a few mething this is way better the some up with a set of notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to be controlled with come down to be experimenting of parsing this all need so far are source markov Chain generator would picking a set of notes, chain generator it so one scaling on the some down to parameters.

 

so I'm experimenting on the chords on the some up with come up with melodies & step into the scales with melodies & step into the something on the chords or some up with come up with melodies & step into than the Bach stuff... notes basis, about 4.5k notes, chain generating a library of notes, I'd need so the scaling a set of notes, the something on the chords or something accents, so far are some down to parsing for notes, I'd need so one this for the something on the scaling on the scales with melodies for the scaling basslines & step into the somethod. right now it source material or modes or something on the chords or more jumping on the Analog Four synth..

 

so I'm experimented to be experimented to be controlled with melodies & step into the chord.

 

this for the chain generator would pick chords or some up with notes via random walk over the questionally generating this all sounds like endless-bach-noodling a library of not quites, I'd need so one scaling though and gets old quites, I'd need so far are something on ther generator which cello suites, I'd need something of notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to parsing a sequences... as in to feed so one that M63 track off Move Of Ten by FLEP BROTHERS.

 

so I'm explored & step into the Analog Four synth..

 

this is way better than the some J.S.Bach cello suites, I'd need so the something on the Bach stuff... this is way better the something on the scaling a sequential to be explored so the scales with melodies & step intervals.. one scaling a library of notes, I've fed into the some up with melodies & step into the scales with melodies & per-measure basslines & percussions, slides, I'd need so one scaling on the scaling on the some J.S.Bach stuff... this is way better the chords or somethods for notes, chain generator. i guess it source markov Chain generator would picking on the scaling of parsing on the Bach stuff... this all source material or modes or some J.S.Bach stuff... this for notes basis, and gets old quites, I'd needs to parsing on the sounds like endless-bach-noodling for notes, I'd need sauce material or more jumping a set of not quites, I'd needs to the Analog Four synth..

 

then, the Bach cello suites, I'd need into the something on the sounds like than the chords or some up with melodies & step intervals.. one scales with melodies & step intervals.. one scaling accents, slides, I'd need so one scaling on the Bach stuff... this is way better the markov chain generator... this all source material or modes or more jumpy... notes, and gets old quites, I'd need so far are something... which cello suites, I'd needs to parsing a library of MIDI files?Hi,

 

so I'm experimenting on the source markov chain generator would picking on the sounds like this for notes, I'd needs to parsing.

 

so I'm explored & step into the something this is way better to be controlled with melodies & step into the something on the Bach stuff... as in to be controlled with come J.S.Bach stuff... notes, I'd need into the Bach stuff...

I tried for a full minute to read and understand this before I realised what you'd done

sounds cool. :) I'd try to feeding anything into it really. Maybe try an audio to midi script to grab midi data from other random audio.

On a technical note, how have you done this? Max? Super collider? Python?

  On 3/7/2014 at 3:51 AM, modey said:

Yeah, it's like phasing but with 24 layers

yah this phasing thing sounds nice.. have an audio example?

  On 3/7/2014 at 1:45 PM, slightlydrybeans said:

sounds cool. :) I'd try to feeding anything into it really. Maybe try an audio to midi script to grab midi data from other random audio.

 

On a technical note, how have you done this? Max? Super collider? Python?

good idea with the audio-to-midi script... gotta try this. the original idea though was to make it so that it's a good tool for other people to use, so i was limiting myself to thinking the source material should be "universally acceptable" or something.

i've written it in Objective C.. it's unoptimized (can be slow, depending on input/output parameters) but flexible. I can feed it anything that can be compared for equality.. e.g. be strings, single characters, numbers, or custom composite objects, e.g. each token could be a structure which encompasses pitch & velocity & length or whatever.

///

however, i've been heavily sidetracking in the last few days.. started to put twitter feeds into the markov thing, then made a twitter bot which tweets nonsense, then started working on a twitter API for the analog four:

@analog_debug

remotely program an A4 via public textual interface lol... will make this into an installation or something.

it's online now.

listen here:

http://mixlr.com/analog_debug/

program here:

https://twitter.com/analog_debug

  On 3/7/2014 at 2:21 PM, phling said:

 

  On 3/7/2014 at 3:51 AM, modey said:

Yeah, it's like phasing but with 24 layers

yah this phasing thing sounds nice.. have an audio example?

 

I will once my Weekly Beats submission goes live!

here it is:

http://weeklybeats.com/#/pselodux/music/cascatella-excerpt

I'm working on sticking a constant bassdrum underneath it. Can't tell if it adds to it or just makes it sound too monotonous.

nice job on that excerpt Modey, have you heard any of my candlelabra stuff?
http://candlelabra.bandcamp.com/ you might dig it considering how weird and physical model electro-acoustic your new track is

Thanks, I'll check it out. I definitely have a bit more interest in physical modelling stuff now that I managed to achieve something fairly cool using relatively simple techniques.. especially since a few of the sounds are approaching a similar texture to some of autechre's drum sounds.

  On 3/5/2014 at 10:50 AM, phling said:

that it can be controlled with a set of parameters.

 

tl;dr: need sauce material for bassline generator. i guess it will come down to parsing a lot of MIDI files... as I did with the Bach stuff... the question is.... which MIDI files?

 

have you tried experimenting with markov functions? It seems like it could work quite well from what you're trying to accomplish, one midi file of say Bach could create dozens of different equally catchy results that sound different from the original. Still havent properly tried out your Analog4 program, before you make it so its incompatible with Ipad 1 I gotta try this mother fucker out!

  On 3/12/2014 at 12:57 AM, modey said:

Thanks, I'll check it out. I definitely have a bit more interest in physical modelling stuff now that I managed to achieve something fairly cool using relatively simple techniques.. especially since a few of the sounds are approaching a similar texture to some of autechre's drum sounds.

this candlelabra album specifically has the most percussion (100% of all sounds are physical models)

http://candlelabra.bandcamp.com/album/live-zool

yes yes, see the 2nd post in this thread which is a markov mangling of the first post lol

markov chains are good fun..... but okay, what i'm doing with this now is this:

if you look at my twitter tweets:

https://twitter.com/__o_____

there's a lot of tweets directed to @analog_debug

@analog_debug is a twitter CLI to the analog four.... the tweets are commands..

@analog_debug track 4 step 3^46'5'3'6 trig n 80'68'73 s 104'1'2'1'46

this is a command which generates trigs.. it can also do parameter locks etc...

it's public, so i'm sticking the commands from all users in a DB....

i could then write another twitter bot which uses a markov generator based on the scraped tweets to generate new tweets. or something

whoops missed that part of your post, you seem to be on the right track. Is this going to be implemented into your existing program? will i be able to try it out on an Ipad 1 ?

yes... the twitter thingie is just for the luls

the commands are text and you can type them on the ipad directly...

it's quite fun, if you look at these chains of numbers, they're actually pattern generators....

e.g.:

track 1 step 1^16'4 trig

will generate a 4-to-the-flour thing on trigs 1, 5, 9, 13...

this:

1^16'4

translates to: "from 1 through 16, increment by 4".

it can get more complex:

1^16'4'1'2'1

translates to: "from 1 through 16, increment by 4, then 1, then 2, then 1, then 4, then 2, etc....".

you can also just specify values directly like this:

1'5'9'13

this will be interpreted not as intervals, but direct values...

for steps, it also takes floating point values:

1^16'0.75

and will use microtiming in the A4 sequencer....

and it works for notes too:

track 1 step 1^16'4'2'1'1 trig note 48'53'51'60'63'60

will generate rhythm & melody (the numbers after 'note' are interpreted as MIDI note numbers...)

you can do p-locks:

track 1 step 1^32'4'3'6'1'1'1 trig param filter2 frequency 32'90'64.5

or in short form

track 1 step 1^32'4'3'6'1'1'1 trig p fil2 frq 32'90'64.5

...

you can re-route an LFO by:

track 1 param lfo1 targetB osc1 tun

etc., etc....

full control over the whole thing :-O

  On 3/11/2014 at 9:36 AM, modey said:

here it is:

 

http://weeklybeats.com/#/pselodux/music/cascatella-excerpt

 

I'm working on sticking a constant bassdrum underneath it. Can't tell if it adds to it or just makes it sound too monotonous.

i thought the beginning was a bit long but then got quite interesting! cool trick

I have nothing to offer but wanted to say that this is amazing and amusing.

Also enjoying that track excerpt modey posted, nice.

that twitter bot is online right now btw:
http://mixlr.com/analog_debug/
https://twitter.com/analog_debug

  On 3/12/2014 at 10:28 PM, ussr said:

I have nothing to offer but wanted to say that this is amazing and amusing.

Also enjoying that track excerpt modey posted, nice.

thanks! I think the one-hour version probably goes on a bit too long, despite having some pretty nice rhythms every now and then. Maybe I'll switch up the source samples every 20mins or so.

That seems like a good idea, it would be interesting to hear the same process applied to different samples in a three part piece. If it's possible to morph the samples so that there's a short but smooth transition phase at the end/start of every cycle it would make some pretty sweet listening, maybe even make it loopable.

twitterbot idea is brilliant!