What is a fractal LFO? Now with MIDI plugin

[liqih]

What is a fractal LFO?

The fractal LFO (introduced for the first time with the NUSofting Kaotica freeware VST effect)
uses a simple quadratic equation called the logistic difference to generate "self-similar" patterns.
the patterns are always different but they are not randomized like in the usual S&H,


source:http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~ldb/seminar/logdiffeqn.html
the patterns are picked by the fractal LFO in the region where the fecondity value r is between 3.5 and 4,
as you can see in the picture above


More info and a new freeware MIDI out VSTi to download,
Also included a nice application (Windows only so far)
which visually illustrates the characteristics of the "Fractal LFO"
used in the plugin.

These are the plugin parameters:

// LFO Speed up to 1/32 Host synced
// Output mode : notes or CC #1 (beware only note on message no note off)
// Min and Max value
// Smooth output, reduce jumps
// Mu value, see the other files inside the RAR
http://dashsignature.com/download/Kaotica_Controls.rar
(the old Kaotica VST BP filter effect is at http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/freeplugins.html)

Here you can listen to fractal patterns used to arpeggiate the overtones in the prototype of the
Addifract synth : http://liqihsynth.com/nusofting/mp3/fractalites.mp3

The alpha DLL of the Addifract synth is downloadable at
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214846

[blortblort]

[flex nes]

very cool !!

[liqih]

Thanks, and I may add that the musical result of fractal patterns vs random S&H is that they are more pleasant to listen to for a long time and of course also less boring than a fixed pattern repeted forever

[liqih]

More info and a new freeware MIDI out VSTi to download,
Also included a nice application (Windows only so far)
which visually illustrates the characteristics of the "Fractal LFO"
used in the plugin.

These are the plugin parameters:

// LFO Speed up to 1/32 Host synced
// Output mode : notes or CC #1 (beware only note on message no note off)
// Min and Max value
// Smooth output, reduce jumps
// Mu value, see the other files inside the RAR
http://dashsignature.com/download/Kaotica_Controls.rar

[MaxSynths]

I must admit I can't understand a single word of the post and the image doesn't help me!

I suppose the best thing I can do to understand is to download the "E=mc2 VST" and give it a try

[blortblort]

wow! this is really really cool, liqih!
(...even if its sort of a nuisance to get Live to play nice with it )
maybe this will be answered if I fiddle around some more (I've only spent a few mins with it, but....)
in notes mode, is the plug sending note off messages? I'm getting a lot of notes that appear to be held/sustained (tested with polyiblit and lazysnake...)

When I tested in cc1 mode, I mapped cc1 to right ch delay time in timeless and played lazysnake thru = fascinating. beautiful effect, liqih!
now- I'm greedy to be able to map more than just one cc out of this type of control!

I'll definitely keep an eye on this as it develops. this fractal lfo idea is amazing stuff!

[MaxSynths]

in notes mode, is the plug sending note off messages? I'm getting a lot of notes that appear to be held/sustained

I'm starting to understand how it works and what done but as Blort said there is this thing about "sustained" notes: after a while I get a lot of noise and I have to unload the synth to stop it.

[liqih]

// Thanks Max, let me knwo your impressions, <grin>

// blortblort: "is the plug sending note off messages?"

from above "(beware only note on message no note off)" you have to set the target envelope!, it's just a simple start, but I do plan a very capable machine, <wink>, currently I'm making a "Force to scale" note filter,

Suggestions for features are welcome, BTW this is linked to the Step Sequencer project from the other thread!, Yes imagine Step Sequencer and Fractal LFO modulators combined.

[Az're-ul]

Just to echo everyone else "Cool!"

I've seen the future and its fractal

[Download SOphist]

nice one!

edit: this is a midi out vsti, but when i load it in Live, it doesn't seem to send MIDI out messages... my stupid self attacking again?

edit: press the play button first, ask next
ok, will check out now.

[dreaddd]

thanx Luigi...ill need to study to get how this works i guess

Peace out

[MaxSynths]

Suggestions for features are welcome

Hi Liqih. I think this plugin can be a good tool in a modular system (like energy, for example). My suggestion is to add an on/off option assignable to midi CC# in order to turn on/off the plug with remote control. Is it possible?

[blortblort]

Hi All!
for anyone who uses Live (and has to put up with the weirdities of how Live handles midi plugins...) hopefully, you'll find this useful.

using vst plugs with midi out in Live actually requires 3 tracks:

while it's not a secret, it's also not completely intuitive.
the way i've gotten it to work is as follows (in session view):

1- MIDI or audio track in live (TR-1)
2- MIDI track in which you insert your midi output plug (TR-K, in this case; Kaotica Control is inserted on this track)
3- MIDI "liaison" track. THIS is the 'tricky' part. (K-midi)

On "K-midi" track, set the "MIDI from" choosers to "TR-K" and "Kaotica Controls".
Then, set the "MIDI to" choosers to your instrument or fx device on TR-1
make sure that all three of the tracks are set to monitor on.
(should look similar to this:)

once you hit the global transport play button, you should start to hear a crazy wash of notes coming from your synth if you are using Kaotica Control in notes mode.
There is a little more set up involved if you are intending to use Kaotica Control to drive the settings of an fx device parameter. You first have to set up the fx device parameter to recieve midi message for cc1
Once you've done that, you should be good to go if you use the routing described above.

HERE is a Live "alp" file of the example of the described setup in Live. If you are not familiar with Live's alp files- it's simply a compressed file which you can dbl click to expand and open. All the necessary settings and/or samples can be consolidated to these alp files for easy sharing. pretty tidy

(I'll only half-apologize for my choice of instrumentation on this example: if you don't have LazySnake already, shame on you...you ought to have it . If you do not have FabFilter's Timeless...I apologize. It is not freeware, but it is a great delay tool and it allows you to map cc1 to any parameter you like...which is why I used it for this example. There may be some freeware tools that allow for easy mapping of cc1 to their parameters, but Timeless was first to my mind in this case...so I apologize.)

HERE is a VERY quick example of how the above described example works when using cc1 mode (I routed Kaotica Control to tweak the right delay time in Timeless while playing a simple line on LazySnake. first pass = no Kaotica Control, second pass = with Kaotica Control)

hope this helps some folks. when I type it all out, it looks more complicated than it really is. trust me: if I can make Live receive midi this way, you can

[shanecgriffo]

thanks for that live tip!