Pure Data Composition By: Zainab Raza CSC 354 Music Seminar Judy Franklin May 1 st, 2007

History of Digital Music Goes back to the 1950’s Goes back to the 1950’s Experimentation with computer generated sound was started by Lejaren Hiller Experimentation with computer generated sound was started by Lejaren Hiller Illiac Suite for String Quartet Illiac Suite for String Quartet not entirely successful, but led the way for further research on Artificial intelligence not entirely successful, but led the way for further research on Artificial intelligence Today, computer’s have the ability to participate in live performances Today, computer’s have the ability to participate in live performances

Influences in my composition Belkin Belkin Foreground vs background Foreground vs background When too many sounds, we prioritize our perceptions When too many sounds, we prioritize our perceptions put the sounds I wanted to prioritize at given times in the foreground put the sounds I wanted to prioritize at given times in the foreground Different ways to make certain sounds stand out Different ways to make certain sounds stand out Volume Volume Pitch Pitch Tempo Tempo

Break Break There are 2 points in my composition when none of the instruments are playing There are 2 points in my composition when none of the instruments are playing This creates suspense, climax and buildup This creates suspense, climax and buildup Progression Progression Composition starts off with one voice playing, others get added in Composition starts off with one voice playing, others get added in At end, the voices slowly fade out At end, the voices slowly fade out

GEMS Article Dramatic Shape Dramatic Shape Start the composition asssertively Start the composition asssertively Having one main climax Having one main climax 60% of the way through the composition 60% of the way through the composition

Outline 3 minute composition 3 minute composition Used 5 different Voices (instruments) Used 5 different Voices (instruments) Synth Voice Synth Voice Voice Aah’s Voice Aah’s Celesta Celesta Steel Drums Steel Drums Open Triangle - percussion Open Triangle - percussion

Pure Data Composition created using Pure Data Composition created using Pure Data Pure data is a real-time graphical programming environment used for audio and graphics processing Pure data is a real-time graphical programming environment used for audio and graphics processing Free and open-source Free and open-source Objects used to create composition Objects used to create composition Bang Bang Delay Delay Random Random Makenote Makenote noteout noteout

Used algorithms for the creation of music Used algorithms for the creation of music Harmonize Harmonize MidiNotes2 MidiNotes2 Playing of instruments controlled by complex system of delays Playing of instruments controlled by complex system of delays Volume control Volume control

MidiNotes2

Instrument 1 – Synth Voice Works with harmonize algorithm Works with harmonize algorithm Length of note varies between 300 and 800 Length of note varies between 300 and 800 Played on channel 1 and 2 Played on channel 1 and 2

Harmonize subpatch One note played at 55 One note played at 55 One at either 55+5 or 55+7 One at either 55+5 or 55+7

Instrument 2 – Voice Aah’s Works with nextpitch3 subpatch, calculates next pitch to be played Works with nextpitch3 subpatch, calculates next pitch to be played Note played on channel 3 Note played on channel 3 Volume for this instrument by the volume control loop Volume for this instrument by the volume control loop

NextPitch3 subpatch Next note to be played is calculated in this loop Next note to be played is calculated in this loop Loops between note values of 50, 53, 57, 63, 50, 58, 65 and lastly 75. Loops between note values of 50, 53, 57, 63, 50, 58, 65 and lastly 75.

Volume Control A loop that controls the volumes of instrument 1 and 2 A loop that controls the volumes of instrument 1 and 2 The loop is initiated with the start bang The loop is initiated with the start bang The volume goes from 40 to 100 in increments of 5 The volume goes from 40 to 100 in increments of 5

Instrument 3 – Open Triangle Percussion instrument Percussion instrument always played on channel 10 always played on channel 10 Pitch controls voice for percussion Pitch controls voice for percussion Volume for this instrument by the volume control loop Volume for this instrument by the volume control loop

Instrument 4 – Steel Drums Steel drums are my personal favorite instrument Steel drums are my personal favorite instrument Love the sound Love the sound plays a random pitch between 35 and 85 plays a random pitch between 35 and 85 Notes are played every 0.05 seconds Notes are played every 0.05 seconds Played on channel 5 Played on channel 5

Instrument 5 – Celesta Uses newpitch subpatch Uses newpitch subpatch In contrast to the steel drums which play lower notes, the celesta plays higher notes In contrast to the steel drums which play lower notes, the celesta plays higher notes Volume is also higher to go with higher pitches Volume is also higher to go with higher pitches

Newpitch subpatch Note loops between 75, 79, 84, 76, 93, 78, 75, 82, 94, 78, 90 and 100 Note loops between 75, 79, 84, 76, 93, 78, 75, 82, 94, 78, 90 and 100

Controlling the composition Composition is started by a single bang and stops automatically after three minutes Composition is started by a single bang and stops automatically after three minutes Within the composition, different instruments are started and stopped according to complex system of delays Within the composition, different instruments are started and stopped according to complex system of delays

Delays