Chance and random composing tools

[Le Berger]

Yup, only runs in Windows as far as i know, and I don't think the program has been much updated since Windows NT, to give you an idea how light and simplistic it is. Don't expect much, it's outdated, crude, almost laughable!

I'm a sucker for those things from digital era CIRCA 'when it wasn't quite there yet', like how quickly we go through phases of new digital products and software without looking back. There isn't yet much of a 'vintage' phenomenon with those things, compared to actual instruments or hardware. The reason being pretty simple, in that department, new is pretty much always better...

But then I don't know, personally I like to try and expand or bend the intended purpose of these things. How easily accessible and understandable they are, yet as soon as something new pops up we toss them aside. Put simply, working within a tight framework without all the malleability and options of the new stuff excites creativity, ingenuity, resourcefulness, etc. Major downside being the amount of f*cking around needed to get where you wanna go.

I'm sure someday, when I have a clue what I'm doing, I'll be able to merge the two aspects...

 

[jórgos]

Windows NT??? We're talking about mid 90s....i haven't operated anything from that era so this little piece of outdated software seems interesting to me. I bought my first PC 11 years ago when i was 11 years old and it came with Windows Millennium which was a terrible experience. I saw many times the "blue screen of death". I don't have a clue how was computers before the milennium but yes the vintage hardware stuff are really timeless and they have a certain quality!

[QuiltSuns]

What about a new profession: music software archeologist... or better! vintage software restorer!
I work with an iMac most of the time and recently bought a new laptop (windows) but the jewel of my studio is an old PC running windows XP. I have everything there! It felt by the stairs in our last house moving. The hard drive died but fortunately I had an image stored so, bought a new HD and happy again! It is vintage instrument! Like having an old Gibson Les Paul from the 60's!
I heard somewhere that Kitaro was so in love with a specific model of Yamaha synth he bought 10 or more of them to secure he would be able to have it for the rest of his life!

[billygomberg]

I know quite a few musicians who keep around vintage Powerbooks just so that they can run obsolete software.  It's certainly something I've thought of doing myself.  (Oh NI Spektral Delay  )

[QuiltSuns]

In that case I think it is time to start a new thread (research) about vintage stuff, old stuff... I going to do it right now!

[NQ]

Markov chains are nice tools for randomization. Even first order Markov Chains can give you some nice results. But second order version, where playing note X results in a higher probability to be followed by Y than Z are quite rewarding. Although a little PITA to set up. Maybe that's the reason i haven't used them for quite a bit now.

I was a fan of strange attractors for some time. Or any self similar function. The results are sort of predictable but still varying in results. For example taking a lorenz attractor and mapping the three axis to different MIDI-CC can result in interesting modulations.

[QuiltSuns]

Markov chains are nice tools for randomization.

Thanks for the info. I checked your site and downloaded the Markov application you made (thanks again!) But I am kind of a nerd and couldn't make it work with Ableton (running in iMac  10.6.5) Any tip?

[NQ]

Thanks for your interest.
The setup is quite easy actually. Assuming you are on OS X, you'd need to activate the  IAC midi-connection. then start ableton live, after that start the Lorenz application.
Select one of the three axis there and choose a midi-CC. Open midi assignement in Ableton live select the desired parameter. then click the toggle in the lorenz application for the desired CC.

Do this one CC a time after you assigned all desired axis'

Please note: the lorenz attractor can blow up pretty easy when setting parameters out of range. In that case just start it again.

hope this helps.

[QuiltSuns]

Thank you NQ! I'll do as you say.

[Le Berger]

http://balldroppings.com/js/

'nuff said