"Magic Porcupine" because it mostly uses microtonal scales called "magic" and "porcupine". Tuned in 22edo (22 equal steps per octave). Rhythmically in 15/16 time, mostly in the form 4-4-3-4 repeating.

Scales (and their modes/rotations) used are:

Diatonic 5L2s: In 22edo, 4414441. Sounds close to "normal" 12edo.

Porcupine 1L6s: In 22edo, 3334333. Starting to sound a little odd.

Magic 1L7s: In 22edo, 1511511151. Definitely sounding microtonal. One step of 22edo is 54.5¢, so close to a "quarter tone" of 12edo. Having a few of these in a row can make for some interesting dissonances and spice.

Freiporc: In 22edo, 312312121213. A subset of the 13 note porcupine MOS scale in 22edo. It was in a list on the xenharmonic wiki. I tried it and thought it worked well, but don't know anything more about it.

These four scales are used in that order, then repeat with different notes. Then there's about 8 bars of a scale listed on the wiki's 22edo page called:

2.3.7.11 4-SN octatonic: Described as 32353231 in 22edo. I suppose this is a 22edo approximation of the JI scale of that same name. The JI scale is: 7/6, 14/11, 3/2, 18/11, 7/4, 21/11, 2/1. In the form 1L 4M 2m 1s, with four step sizes: L=33/28, M=12/11, m=77/72, s=22/21.

The outro section is all in Magic scales.

G.30 Magic Porkypine

New piece, back to more energetic and intricate. In 28edo tuning (28 equal steps per octave), and in 28/16 meter. Mostly in counterpoint with melodic lines interwoven or "tangled up" right on top of each other. Plus pads and drums.

Semi-generative in that the "chaotic groove sequencer" program I made in Max generated a lot of the "raw notes", building blocks which I then edited, arranged, and tweaked in many ways. The generative Max program takes a lot of work to set up, organize parameters and parameter presets, and "play". And then a lot more work to edit and change things in an effort to make it sound more "alive". Pretty much every generated note has been tweaked for velocity and duration, and often pitch and rhythm too. Lots of notes were added or deleted as well. The instrumentation, FX, etc, are all done "by hand". The generative stuff is the foundation of the "melodic" voices, which I tried to edit and arrange such that melodies emerge from multiple voices interwoven together. I like the idea of melodies constantly shifting between voices. The drums and pads were added "by hand".

The program generates notes by several methods. Perhaps the most interesting is the "logistic map" equation from chaos math: next-x = r * cur-x (1.0 - cur-x). Depending on the value of the r parameter the output can range from single values repeating to chaos, with islands of interest along the "edge of chaos". I try to find places in the logistic map where there's an ever-changing yet "self-similar" fractal-like feeling. The equation output values between 0-1, which I have Max map to a changing list of pitches in MIDI.

Another interesting method used in Max is having a voice "arpeggiate" though its pitch set—the pitch sets are made from the current scale, transposition, and pitch range, all set by hand and saved in presets per voice. When the number of pitches in the pitch set and/or the arpeggiating sequence pattern is different from the number of notes per 28-step rhythmic loop, the pitches can end up shifting around the rhythm as it loops. When multiple voices do that in different ways the result can be quite complicated and feel somewhat unpredictable.

Being in 28edo tuning, of course I had to use 28/16 meter. An interesting meter as it can just be 7/4 or a whole bunch of more complicated metric patterns, like 7/8 twice per loop, or 7/16 four times per loop, or a bunch of other patterns.

Scales used, with various modulations, in order use use: Tetrawood 4L4s (4 equally large steps and four equally small steps) mode 43434343 (steps of 28edo), Diasem 5L2m2s RH mode 414434143 (diasem is chiral so has "right-handed" and "left-handed" forms), Diasem LH mode 441434143, Diasem RH mode 414434143, "Minor" (5254345), Dietic Minor 4L3m3s mode 4134413413, Omnidiatonic 2L3m2s RH mode 4642642 (another chiral scale form), Diasem mode 143414434, "Minor".

Or more simply put: The track uses scales of 28edo known as Tetrawood, Diasem, "Minor", Dietic Minor, and Omnidiatonic. The scale called "minor" is, as far as I know, basically 28edo's best approximation of "normal" diatonic. Except it uses four different step sizes. Still it seems to sound pretty much like normal 12edo diatonic, at least on this track. Funny how my ear can't really tell there are extra step sizes compared to 12edo diatonic.

Also on my youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@duckapus424

Images made in midjourney. Just me trying to get midjourney to do strange and unexpected things. 

G.31 Crazy 28 (28edo)

Perhaps you've felt it too – that subtle sense of disconnect, like a whisper of something misplaced. "Forgotten Source" is an ambient track that tries to explore this feeling, born from the spontaneous interplay of Eurorack modules and the rhythmic character of the Roland TR-8S. I sometimes feel that the raw, generative elements, crafted DAWless and captured live in Ableton Live, then mastered, carry a certain honesty.

The title "Forgotten Source" stems from an idea that perhaps we, as humans, sometimes forget our intrinsic connection to the foundational elements of water, earth, air, and fire. It’s a quiet contemplation on finding oneself in a vast, almost dry landscape, perhaps longing for a sense of belonging or remembering where we truly come from. Through its funk-infused vocals, the track aims to offer a gentle guidance back to that origin, or at least a moment to reflect on it.

Forgotten Source

This track was a collaboration with my plants 

Talking

Generative ambient soundscape. Eight voices.SEQ22 (docB) is used to cluster pitches of the string by guiding probabilities using six phase-shifted LFOs.

https://youtu.be/QkvcUVhGQKw

Download patch at https://patchstorage.com/childhood-dream-22/

Image Credit: Rhendi Rukmana, kid wearing green jacket mini figure beside glass window, https://unsplash.com/photos/kid-wearing-green-jacket-mini-figure-beside-glass-window-H0lTOg1t_0o

Childhood Dream #22 | VCV Rack

Generative ambient soundscape. Spacey pad, filtered soft lead, and bass.

Image Title: Glittering glimpse of star birth
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Source: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb
License: CC BY 4.0 INT	

https://youtu.be/rbaMXfE4JXI

https://patchstorage.com/star-birth/

Star Birth | VCV Rack

generative eurorack track to get lost in for a bit

rainydaytrance (generative)

left out in the rain

This track is fully generated by a patch I made in max9, using a boids simulation as the random generator. 

Siamoid

Drifting voices sing over the rain-soaked echoes of an antique piano.

[modal]Space4

A lot of Mutable inspired modules with some System 100m replicas and a Rubicon 2.

The Anchorite - Black Box Bloc

Work in progress for an ambient generative project. Created with Web Audio API

Here and Now (WIP)

"Crossed Shadows" is a piece for live saxophone quartet, live or recorded drummer, and tape commissioned by the Red Clay Saxophone Quartet (www.redclaysaxophonequartet.weebly.com). The drum track was developed and performed by Jake Richter (www.jakerichterdrums.com). Andrew McKenna Lee (www.stillsoundmusic.com) edited, mixed, and produced this recording.

Crossed Shadows

I made this patch on VCV Rack earlier in the afternoon and it finally helped me get some sleep after a few days of insomnia so hopefully it has the same soothing effect on you :)

The House Is Gone (V0)

A small, dreamy, modular journey through the last harsh autumn nights, with generative influences that symbolize the unpredictability of this season and yet create a sense of calm if you allow yourself to be immersed in it. The piece was recorded live in Ableton and mastered there as well.

Midnight Drift

Generative ambient soundscape using Polygene (Rare Breeds) as controller for Looper (Lilac). Speech samples created by Luvvoice (https://luvvoice.com/) and played back in randomly Wav Bank (Voxglitch). Samples were not saved with the patch, but you can load your own as you wish.

#vcvrack, #ambient, #soundscape, #generative, #meditation, #relaxation

https://youtu.be/ET2gkxDtInY

https://patchstorage.com/but-no-answer/

But No Answers | VCV Rack | Generative Ambient Soundscape

Kollektiv Schwarzer Bär are two electronic music lovers who have lived for years at the Schwarzer Bär in beautiful Linden and have been influenced by the electro scene in Hannover.

We grew up with electronic sounds and have been familiar with them for 30 years. Now, with this project, we want to bring people closer to this wonderful music and its different styles. Short mix sets will be presented here on a regular basis to give even the not so expert an overview for any mood . We are very happy about comments and feedback to get this small project more and more to flourish .


Many thanks

Marcus & Andy

Music and sounds using the virtual modular synth VCV Rack.

Minimal // Deep House // Chill Out

NRW, Germany

Music Producer

Soundscapes from a mirrored reality.

Composer of acoustic & electronic music.  Sometimes I combine the two.  Also music faculty & co-director of The Emergence Lab at Duke University.

I have my fingers in many musical pies, though may main genres would have to be lounge, jungle and ambient synth.

New tracks tagged #generative