Saturn2: Algorithmically created space scapes

[tconrardy]

Hi All

On the CN Fractal Music forum at Yahoo, we are doing a project which uses Saturn as a theme. Here is mine called Saturn2.

http://home.earthlink.net/~tconrardy/Saturn2.mp3

about 4 megs.

Uses sounds created with bitmaps of saturns rings from the new images provided by the Cassini spacecraft now in orbit around saturn. These were imported in Cameleon (Camel Audio: http://www.camelaudio.com )

The sounds in turn were played algorithmically using an Atari program called CAMUS ( see http://tamw.atari-users.net/camus.htm) run on PC using Steem ( the Atari Emulator for PC.. see http://tamw.atari-users.net/steem.htm )and a MIDI loopback device to create virtual MIDI cords into Tracktion where it played the Cameleon voices.. 3 instances) as well as 2 instances of M42 Nebula Vsti ( http://www.algomusic.nl )

Here is the CAMUS screenshot. I basically drew in a picture of Saturn by hand ( kinda crude) as well as it's 23 moons.



After setting my playing rules and clicking on Start, Camus then played the image of Saturn. The whole thing actually took up about 500 bars! But in the final MP3, I cut it down considerably. This is a "sound scape". Sounds like the soundtrack to "Alien" in a way:-)

I also put in a cymbol spash processed by a "secret" effect ( can't tell ya yet)

Comments welcome: not for the faint of heart!

TC

[Sicklecell666]

That's cool as hell, Tim. You should post a link to that in Vurt's thread regarding the 3 hour astronomy piece he's working on..

[spaceman]

wow great.. I think I'll try it out

[experimental.crow]

the piece has a somber majesty , quite like its namesake ...
i find the chording intriguing ...
the sounds are sublime ...

could that 'secret' process be the much
anticipated m-42 effects module ?...

you might want to check ...
i thought i noticed some clipping @ the
1.23 mark , and again , at about 3.03 ...

[Sepheritoh]

It scares me that totally random algorythms with no artistic education can actually compose music like this

Great tune. It does clip at the places noted above by normal and then again at about 3:39.

Cool tune.

[spaceman]

hey tim..

could you possibly give me some settings for Steam you think might be important for running Camus?

it will save me some time not having to go the usual trial and error way

cheers

[tconrardy]

It scares me that totally random algorythms with no artistic education can actually compose music like this

Great tune. It does clip at the places noted above by normal and then again at about 3:39.

Cool tune.

well...it's not totally random. You have to set the rules: what types of pitches, how much dynamics, all sorts of stuff. So it's not completly random. It also played the picture I drew in my hand!But I have found that each of these Algo apps has it's own style, so it's a matter of what type of music you want to do. My fav is Tunesmith by Jim Johnson. It's worth setting up steem just for that..and it's all freeware now!

But I was amazed at the harmonies that CAMUS produced.

Thanks for the clipping notes: I'll check it out!

TC

[tconrardy]

hey tim..

could you possibly give me some settings for Steam you think might be important for running Camus?

it will save me some time not having to go the usual trial and error way

cheers

There is a setup icon on the top of steem. You can set your MIDI IN and OUT devices. Once you have your loopback app installed ( do a google on it..I think theres only one now that support XP, but Hubby's loopback can be used on other OS's..PC that is) You can select the loopback's MIDI out for the MIDI out device is steem. Then open your host, and select the loopbacks MIDI IN as input device. Put in a VSTi, then click into Steem and run the program. It should play the VSTi.

However if you just want to experiment using your soundcard's sounds, you can set the MIDI OUT in steem to your soundcard.

I know this sounds rather complicated, but it's not..it's just a matter of doing it

TC

[Ben [Camel Audio]]

Hi Tim,

This is really cool. There's definite hints of Blade Runner (which is one of my favourite sounds tracks BTW). Excellent presets - I'm looking forward to getting my hands on them

It scares me that totally random algorythms with no artistic education can actually compose music like this

I know what you mean, but look at who designed all the sounds, and no doubt set up quite a few parameters to get this result! I'm not familiar with the algorithmic tools, but I would imagine Tim must have intelligently set up quite a few parameters to get this kind of result - plus he did a lot of editing. Perhaps Tim could throw some light on it?

Thanks
Ben

[Glooper]

This is kinda cool... Definetely one for Vurts Kiddie scareathon.

Bem

[Sicklecell666]

Hi Tim,

This is really cool. There's definite hints of Blade Runner (which is one of my favourite sounds tracks BTW). Excellent presets - I'm looking forward to getting my hands on them

I wanted to say something like that, but I bust on Tim with enough Vangelis comments as it is..

Vangelis's Blade Runner is also a fav soundtrack of mine..it was kinda wierd how it took so long for it to be released, I forget why..great album though..

[Jim [Camel Audio]]

This is a fascinating piece of music Tim.

Beautiful crystal-like sounds, and the whole way you created it is fascinating. If I find the time I'd like to explore your methods more

Can I ask what reverb you used? Sounds very clear and clean

Jim

[tconrardy]

Hi Tim,

This is really cool. There's definite hints of Blade Runner (which is one of my favourite sounds tracks BTW). Excellent presets - I'm looking forward to getting my hands on them

It scares me that totally random algorythms with no artistic education can actually compose music like this

I know what you mean, but look at who designed all the sounds, and no doubt set up quite a few parameters to get this result! I'm not familiar with the algorithmic tools, but I would imagine Tim must have intelligently set up quite a few parameters to get this kind of result - plus he did a lot of editing. Perhaps Tim could throw some light on it?

Thanks
Ben

Well...since I am a tweaker, the settings in CAMUS were just my experiments to see what would happen IF...and Tweak.I am sure I could come up with other kinds of results, but this is what came out this time! so to burst a bubbel: it was not really intelligence, just curiosity that make the blip

But the Bitmap sounds from Cameleon I did work on quite a bit to get some usable sounds ( Ok Ben..I will send 'em to ya!)

and the secret effect was NOT M42 nebula effect version..more bubbles burst..sorry

and..New upload with the clipping removed. ( same URL) I had originally but on a bass EQ, and it went wild at those spaces. So I redid it with no EQ, and it seems fine. Thanks for the heads up ( pun intended)

anybody else work with algo stuff in Music?

TC

[koorby]

Nice work TC

[Soniccat]

Very cool sounds and tunes Tim. Makes it sound easy but I suppose there was alot of you hand in this. Will have to try out the programs you used. Thanks for sharing this.