Pure Data Pure Data CompositionComposition

By:By:Zainab RazaZainab Raza

CSC 354CSC 354Music SeminarMusic SeminarJudy FranklinJudy FranklinMay 1May 1stst, 2007, 2007

History of Digital MusicHistory of Digital Music

Goes back to the 1950’sGoes back to the 1950’s Experimentation with computer Experimentation with computer

generated sound was started by Lejaren generated sound was started by Lejaren HillerHiller Illiac Suite for String Quartet Illiac Suite for String Quartet not entirely successful, but led the way for not entirely successful, but led the way for

further research on Artificial intelligence further research on Artificial intelligence

Today, computer’s have the ability to Today, computer’s have the ability to participate in live performancesparticipate in live performances

Influences in my Influences in my compositioncomposition

BelkinBelkin Foreground vs backgroundForeground vs background

When too many sounds, we prioritize our When too many sounds, we prioritize our perceptionsperceptions

put the sounds I wanted to prioritize at given put the sounds I wanted to prioritize at given times in the foregroundtimes in the foreground

Different ways to make certain sounds stand outDifferent ways to make certain sounds stand out VolumeVolume PitchPitch TempoTempo

BreakBreak There are 2 points in my composition when There are 2 points in my composition when

none of the instruments are playingnone of the instruments are playing This creates suspense, climax and buildupThis creates suspense, climax and buildup

ProgressionProgression Composition starts off with one voice Composition starts off with one voice

playing, others get added inplaying, others get added in At end, the voices slowly fade outAt end, the voices slowly fade out

GEMS ArticleGEMS Article

Dramatic ShapeDramatic Shape Start the composition asssertivelyStart the composition asssertively Having one main climaxHaving one main climax 60% of the way through the 60% of the way through the

compositioncomposition

OutlineOutline

3 minute composition3 minute composition Used 5 different Voices Used 5 different Voices

(instruments)(instruments) Synth VoiceSynth Voice Voice Aah’sVoice Aah’s CelestaCelesta Steel DrumsSteel Drums Open Triangle - percussionOpen Triangle - percussion

Pure DataPure Data

Composition created using Pure DataComposition created using Pure Data Pure data is a real-time graphical Pure data is a real-time graphical

programming environment used for audio programming environment used for audio and graphics processingand graphics processing

Free and open-sourceFree and open-source Objects used to create compositionObjects used to create composition

BangBang DelayDelay RandomRandom MakenoteMakenote noteoutnoteout

Used algorithms for the creation of Used algorithms for the creation of musicmusic HarmonizeHarmonize MidiNotes2MidiNotes2

Playing of instruments controlled by Playing of instruments controlled by complex system of delayscomplex system of delays

Volume controlVolume control

MidiNotes2MidiNotes2

Instrument 1 – Synth Instrument 1 – Synth VoiceVoice

Works with harmonize Works with harmonize algorithmalgorithm

Length of note varies Length of note varies between 300 and 800between 300 and 800

Played on channel 1 Played on channel 1 and 2and 2

Harmonize subpatchHarmonize subpatch

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

Instrument 2 – Voice Instrument 2 – Voice Aah’sAah’s

Works with nextpitch3 Works with nextpitch3 subpatch, calculates subpatch, calculates next pitch to be playednext pitch to be played

Note played on Note played on channel 3channel 3

Volume for this Volume for this instrument by the instrument by the volume control loopvolume control loop

NextPitch3 subpatchNextPitch3 subpatch

Next note to be Next note to be played is played is calculated in this calculated in this looploop

Loops between Loops between note values of 50, note values of 50, 53, 57, 63, 50, 58, 53, 57, 63, 50, 58, 65 and lastly 75.65 and lastly 75.

Volume ControlVolume Control

A loop that controls the volumes of A loop that controls the volumes of instrument 1 and 2instrument 1 and 2

The loop is initiated with the start The loop is initiated with the start bangbang

The volume goes from 40 to 100 in The volume goes from 40 to 100 in increments of 5increments of 5

Instrument 3 – Open Instrument 3 – Open TriangleTriangle

Percussion Percussion instrumentinstrument always played on always played on

channel 10channel 10

Pitch controls voice Pitch controls voice for percussionfor percussion

Volume for this Volume for this instrument by the instrument by the volume control volume control looploop

Instrument 4 – Steel Instrument 4 – Steel DrumsDrums

Steel drums are my personal favorite Steel drums are my personal favorite instrumentinstrument Love the soundLove the sound plays a random pitch between 35 and 85plays a random pitch between 35 and 85 Notes are played every 0.05 secondsNotes are played every 0.05 seconds Played on channel 5Played on channel 5

Instrument 5 – CelestaInstrument 5 – Celesta

Uses newpitch Uses newpitch subpatchsubpatch

In contrast to the steel In contrast to the steel drums which play drums which play lower notes, the lower notes, the celesta plays higher celesta plays higher notesnotes

Volume is also higher Volume is also higher to go with higher to go with higher pitchespitches

Newpitch subpatchNewpitch subpatch Note loops between 75, 79, 84, 76, 93, 78, 75, 82, Note loops between 75, 79, 84, 76, 93, 78, 75, 82, 94, 78, 90 and 10094, 78, 90 and 100

Controlling the Controlling the compositioncomposition

Composition is started by a single bang Composition is started by a single bang and stops automatically after three and stops automatically after three minutesminutes

Within the composition, different Within the composition, different instruments are started and stopped instruments are started and stopped according to complex system of delaysaccording to complex system of delays

DelaysDelays