I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

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lullatone
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I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by lullatone » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:00 pm

Here is a quick video about it:
https://youtu.be/3qTO2GMcZkc

This is a really simple prototype I came up with about 20 years ago while trying to think of a way to make a record that could be a never-ending loop but also have enough randomness to not become too repetitive. Imagine someone play ping-pong on a carousel or wind chimes in a whirlpool.

My goal was to have the pendulum-like swing of the mallet be a nod to the minimalist music of Steve Reich and Kousugi Takehisa, with the way ideas are sometimes better than finished products like John Cage, the somnolent spinning of Alexander Calder (I had to use a thesaurus to find a good word that started with s), mixed with the playful experimentation in the “Useless Machines” of Bruno Munari.

We’ve used it in the background of live shows all over the world. More than just adding a subtle layer of haphazard notes, it is also kind of hypnotizing to look at.

Anyway, I want to explore more of these kind of off-beat ways of making melodies more this year. Computers are great, but sometimes it is nice to see what is happening. I’m not sure if it is really music or art, but it is an idea. And despite what people who hustle too much will tell, ideas aren’t nothing.

Here’s to making and thinking.
best wishes from Japan,
Shawn / Lullatone

drumsound
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by drumsound » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:04 pm

Cool stuff, Shawn. Welcome to the TOMB.

lullatone
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by lullatone » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:18 pm

drumsound wrote:
Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:04 pm
Welcome to the TOMB.
Thanks! I've been a longtime post-less lurker and podcast listener too. Such a nice community of people sharing ideas and techniques.
High fives!

mjau
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by mjau » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:42 am

Very cool!

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Scodiddly
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by Scodiddly » Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:43 am

I love that kind of stuff, thanks for sharing.

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digitaldrummer
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by digitaldrummer » Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:11 am

cool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
Mike
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www.doubledogrecording.com

mjau
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by mjau » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:22 am

digitaldrummer wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:11 am
cool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
That’s the Joe Bonamassa signature edition perpetual melody machine.

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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by vvv » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:55 am

8)
bandcamp;
blog.
I mix with olive juice.

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markjazzbassist
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by markjazzbassist » Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:08 am

cool concept, thank you for sharing

lullatone
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by lullatone » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:44 pm

digitaldrummer wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:11 am
cool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
:D Round 2!

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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by standup » Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:26 am

Generative music in synth-land

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CraigS63
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by CraigS63 » Sun Jan 31, 2021 1:44 pm

I messed with the Youtube "playback speed" feature a little while listening (I wish that had an option to change pitch accordingly...).
Nice work!

lullatone
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Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine

Post by lullatone » Sun Jan 31, 2021 3:14 pm

CraigS63 wrote:
Sun Jan 31, 2021 1:44 pm
I messed with the Youtube "playback speed" feature a little while
It is really fun, right!? I love playing with that.
Slowed way down, people talking either sound super drunk or like a like a broken granular synthesizer :lol:
But, with a little luck it seems like someone might be able to get some Nuno Canavarro sounds out of it maybe.

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