Consolidation of Device

In the previous post I laid down the concept/metaphor of the project, noting what I wanted the device to be able to do and what’s the reason behind it. In a small summary, this device will produce interesting sound design from a click of a button, becoming in a sort an oracle that seeks to predict what sounds you need. This concept inspired in the Mexican divination practice of Pajaritos De La Suerte.

The device will be a granular sampler, that will manipulate grain in a lot of different ways and different algorithms most of them being generative. The user only has three controls in the device, load an audio file into the buffer, choose the envelope slider from drone to percussion, and finally click a button that will generate an interesting sound. By clicking the button, an algorithm of manipulation of the grains will be randomly selected, some with generative sequencing or modulation. When the user uses the envelop slider, it can be decided the amplitude and time character of the sound. All to the left selects drone that keeps a sustain note. All to the right choses a percussion envelope, with no attack and a short decay. In percussion mode a sequencer will sequence the drums in a generative manner. Everything in the middle of the slider will be an amplitude envelop that combines the two ends of the slider.

The image above is how the device will look when its finished, this image is from a non functioning prototype. In the next post I’ll show a map of the probable map of algorithms of this device. I don’t know to what extend my ideas are going to be possible technically. I guess from now to the deadline next year some elements of the device will change. Even-though of this I will attempt to change as little as possible the device from this plan and concept.