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Subject: Proposed module: ChaosFactory

From: "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...
Date: 1999-11-05

While sitting here trying to catch up with the backlog, the mind wandered
to...

>>>>C H A O S F A C T O R Y<<<<<

This is just a whim/point of discussion (to distract those waiting for me to
ship stuff).

The ChaosFactory is a 1U or 2U audio out module. Essentially, it is a
self-contained
analog synth that is constantly being randomly patched and played (Look Ma!
No hands!)

Several have asked about an "academic" chaos processor. These are basically
oscillators
with feedback that are sort of like Jimi at Woodstock. The trouble is, after
20 minutes of
sqeals, it gets sort of old.

What I'm thinking of is a "sloppy" synth "voice" that is controlled by a
"farm" of PIC uPs. Each
PIC supervises 1 little section (VCO, EGs...). Each PIC has an internal A/D
converter to
read a CV. The CV determines "the degree of chaos" in that section. For
example, a chaos
of 0 is like a drone (not much choas). A chaos of 10 on a VCO means it could
be 20Hz one
note and 20K the next, then silence for 4 minutes (extreme chaos).

I think it would be neat to have a big ROM with like 5000 musical "snippets"
(ie phrases of
songs from "Row Your Boat" to Bach to whatever) Not songs, just a few bars.
These are
interleaved with scale runs, random stuff, etc. There is no "speed" control:
that is random but
the chaos sets the ∗probability∗ of a deviation from a nominal. Sometimes,
it just drones, squeals,
outputs white noise, or sits there.

Too much Haloween candy on the brain again. Or, too much Skinny Puppy.

Paul S.