Algorithmic Audio Alchemy
I used Max to experiment with various combinations and permutations of switches and randomness to create unique audio effects and loops. This was paired with a backing drumbeat to produce the final composition. Detailed information about each component in the Max patch is available in the comments on the patch.
Each component of the algorithm incorporates randomness in some way. I began by creating a looping pattern that outputs a click sound, with functionality to trigger the click on every 8th, 16th, or 32nd note. Users can also adjust the tempo to their preference. Additionally, there's a random note generator module controlled by a "gswitch" component, which introduces further randomness into the process.
The random note generator has an inlet that receives a bang from the gswitch component, triggering a random function within the note generator module. This function generates a random value between 0 and 199, which is then scaled to fit within an octave range of 0 to 12. This scaled value is used as the pitch for the makernote object.
In addition to scaling the pitch, the module also triggers bangs to generate random velocity and duration values for the note. Velocity is generated by producing a random value between 0 and 126, which is then scaled to fall between 70 and 110. This range was chosen to avoid excessively low or high values. The duration value is generated separately from this module, as will be discussed later.