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Categorising complex dynamic sounds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2001

EDUARDO RECK MIRANDA
Affiliation:
Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris, 6 Rue Amyot, 75005 Paris, France Email: [email protected] Laboratório de Música Eletroacústica de Santa Maria, Rua Riachuelo 1110-32, 90010-272 Porto Alegre, Brazil Email: [email protected]
JAMES CORREA
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Música Eletroacústica de Santa Maria, Rua Riachuelo 1110-32, 90010-272 Porto Alegre, Brazil Email: [email protected]
JOE WRIGHT
Affiliation:
Nyr Sound, 8 Cringle Avenue, Barnemouth BH6 4HX, UK Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Chaosynth is a cellular automata-based granular synthesis system whose capabilities for producing unusual complex dynamic sounds are limitless. However, due to its newness and flexibility, potential users have found it very hard to explore its possibilities as there is no clear referential framework to hold on to when designing sounds. Standard software synthesis systems take this framework for granted by adopting a taxonomy for synthesis instruments that has been inherited from the acoustic musical instruments tradition, i.e. woodwind, brass, string, percussion, etc. Sadly, the most interesting synthesised sounds that these systems can produce are simply referred to as effects. This scheme clearly does not meet the demands of more innovative software synthesizers. In order to alleviate this problem, we propose an alternative taxonomy for Chaosynth timbres. The paper begins with a brief introduction to the basic functioning of Chaosynth. It then presents our proposed taxonomy and ends with concluding comments. A number of examples are provided on this volume's Organised Sound CD.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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