Revisiting some under-explored experiments in "self-directed" sonic systems from Design After Nature project in 2008.  An experiment in maximal minimal generative systems (most variety, from simplest system).

What if sound determined the conditions of it's unfolding? 

In this example a tap dripping controls its own playback.

Pseudocode: 

Play sample
Listen for onsets
If above threshold (probabilistically) 
- change direction and speed (as an inverse function of the frequency of strongest partial -- to create a simple homeostasis) 
- resynthesise N partials according to the original energy distribution at the point of onset detection.

This simple routine draws out and explores the latent rhythmic and spectral content of everyday sounds. Endlessly. 

Best listened late at night on headphones.

It has a of life of it's own that I find quite pleasing. But I have been living on my own for nearly 3 months now : ) 

Implemented in the excellent beads for processing by Ollie Bown
http://www.beadsproject.net/

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Sprid 2020

Nygamla (reinvention) is an electroacoustic piece which explores the sounds of the Nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish folk instrument. There are two sound sources used to create the electroacoustic part. The first are generated from recordings of Robert Bentall performing and demonstrating extended techniques on the Nyckelharpa. The second are recordings from the Buchla 200 Modular Synthesiser recorded at EMS (Elektronmusik Studion), Stockholm, September 2019. 
The Nyckelharpa is taken out of its traditional folk tradition and placed within a new sonic space where its identity has been masked and processed into a variety of new textures. For the composer this piece is an exploration of working with new sound materials generated from the Nyckelharpa and the Buchla. 
I would like to thank Robert Bentall for organising this project and introducing me to the Nyckelharpa.

Nygamla

Brona Martin

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