[sdiy] What is chaos?

[Ian Fritz]

Fabio --

None of the answers you have been given are even close to correct.

Chaos is *not* random.  Chaotic systems are those that are deterministic, 
in the sense of having well defined dynamic rules of evolution, but which 
show an irregular response.  An example is the weather.  Winds and 
temperatures follow the laws of hydrodynamics, but both fluctuate 
erratically.  Since the weather follows physical laws, it can be predicted, 
given enough computing power and initial data.

To say it another way, events in chaotic systems are correlated in 
time.  Random events, eg, a coin flip, are uncorrelated.

Chaotic systems are interesting for music because they combine regularity 
with irregularity, just like traditional music does.  Chaotic music sounds 
quite different from random music because of the correlated dynamics.

I've been spending almost all of my diy time for the past two years 
studying chaos theory and designing and building voltage-controlled chaotic 
circuits.  I have posted several examples and circuits recently at a 
temporary web page, but none of those are up right now.

I hope this helps.  Chaotic systems can sometimes seem random, and people 
who haven't studied the math often don't understand the technical 
definition (which, of course, I have simplified here).

   Ian







At 08:37 AM 2/12/2007, you wrote:
>I've googled for hours and am more confused than before. I'm not
>searching for synth patches or module schematics, just an
>aproximate definition of such thing (in a musical context). I'm
>deeply in the dark in these matters.
>Personal opinions highly welcomed.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Fabio
>.