I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
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
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
-
- zen recordist
- Posts: 7474
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:30 pm
- Location: Bloomington IL
- Contact:
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
Cool stuff, Shawn. Welcome to the TOMB.
- Scodiddly
- genitals didn't survive the freeze
- Posts: 3957
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2003 6:38 am
- Location: Mundelein, IL, USA
- Contact:
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
I love that kind of stuff, thanks for sharing.
- digitaldrummer
- ghost haunting audio students
- Posts: 3476
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:51 pm
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Contact:
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
cool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
That’s the Joe Bonamassa signature edition perpetual melody machine.digitaldrummer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:11 amcool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
- markjazzbassist
- tinnitus
- Posts: 1050
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:33 am
- Location: Cleveland
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
cool concept, thank you for sharing
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
Round 2!digitaldrummer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:11 amcool stuff. I was hoping to hear it through a Tube screamer and wah-wah
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
Generative music in synth-land
- CraigS63
- suffering 'studio suck'
- Posts: 422
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:38 pm
- Location: Naperville, IL
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
I messed with the Youtube "playback speed" feature a little while listening (I wish that had an option to change pitch accordingly...).
Nice work!
Nice work!
Re: I tried to make a Perpetual Melody Machine
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
But, with a little luck it seems like someone might be able to get some Nuno Canavarro sounds out of it maybe.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 80 guests